Film Review: Pussy Riot - A Punk Prayer (Mike Lerner) 2013

On 21^st February 2012, four women entered the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow dressed in bright clothes and neon balaclavas and sang a protest song, interrupting a church service.  This performance has since become a global news story with all kinds of people claiming that the event has become a symbol for something much larger than itself. Some see it as a return to Soviet religious persecution, some as a feminist call-to-arms, or an anti-Putin protest, or punk-terrorism… A new documentary tries to tell the story of the build up to the notorious act and then the aftermath and trial that came of it from all different points of view.

The main players in the scandal are Nadia, Masha and Katia – three intelligent, articulate, middle-class feminists who were put on trial for ‘disrupting society with an act of hooliganism [that is] motivated by religious hatred’.  They see what they did as simply “metaphor and art” – something that the state simply doesn’t understand.  The filmmakers give the women each a human backstory, something that has been refused of them by the press, and it is explained how they grew up interested in conceptual art and human rights.

The women are then positioned against the Russian Orthodox Church, represented onscreen by the religious literalist Carriers of the Cross, and the Russian state, particularly Vladimir Putin and the judiciary system that are prosecuting them.  Even though these extremists from the church might seem  like an easy target – they really don’t help themselves.  For example when one of them complains about the deviant band name he translates it as “Deranged Vaginas”.

The film begins with an introduction to the anonymous protest group with some footage of them rehearsing their music.  It feels at first like a music documentary with the familiar convention of a band warming up for a big important show.  The film then abruptly changes into point-of-view journalism before finally ending with a courtroom drama in the last third.  This gives the film a fairly predictable narrative – especially if you know what happens in the end.  It is the articulate intelligence and courage shown by the band that keeps the film so gripping though.  After the fuss that is made decrying the harsh nature of the criminal justice system it is amazing to hear the women speak so freely and with such dissent to the judges.

Due to the nature of the event and the seclusion of the remaining Pussy Riot members, the film has to rely mostly on interviews with family members as well as news footage and opposition opinion to create the bulk of the film, although the film has some seriously stylish editing and onscreen graphics too.  Finally though, it is the supercool music that makes this film so enjoyable.  A simple portrayal of events would make a satisfying televisual product – the music and the pacing give the film it’s cinematic edge.

For an interview that I had with the director Mike Lerner see here

(This review was originally posted on the now defunct DownWithFilm.com)