So I gave this doc 4%s for surprising me. It's a well told story of real conflicts in a set of adult women's lives. I didn't end up admiring the Dixie Chicks, in fact I'm sad that they were so wishy-washy, and apologetic when the controversy started. And they never really said anything too firmly. But the story of the group finding themselves as musicians and mature women was interesting to watch.
The film jumps back and forth between 2003 and 2005/6. In 2003 on the eve of the invasion of Iraq, while playing a gig in London, the lead singer, Natalie Bains, said that she was with the audience, on "the good side", probably meaning that she was with the enormous anti-war protests occurring in London at the time. And she wrapped up by saying that they were ashamed that the president is from Texas.
That first tour shows the Dixie Chicks dressed up in trendy semi-punk fashion and working with a corporate sponsor for their tour, Lipton. They start out as total commercial material and through the controversy, lose their fan base. They realize that many of their fans were very fickle and extremely judgmental. As time goes by and the controversy doesn't ease, it frees them as a group from their commercial limitations as are attached to the country music market. Country radio stations won't play them because of a grass-roots boycott by an extreme right nationalist group.
This rejection fuels them creatively and for the first time ever, they write (nearly) all of the songs on their new album, in 2005. The music isn't my taste, but it's moving to see women really express their feelings and experiences through music. Their maturity, confidence and strength are exciting and push them forward into making more interesting and less common music. And as they mount their next tour, they dress like adult women. No more fake punk skirts and bizarre makeup. It's still heavy fashion, but it's more sophisticated and subdued. And they are all mothers at this point. They have families and have been through a rough patch and came out stronger and more independent. They begin to say, screw the record company, screw the financial instability. We believe in ourselves and our music. They take a greater ownership and seem to be more involved in their music. It's a great transformation to see.
It's not going to revolutionize anything, but it's quality. It didn't change my worldview or leave me in tears. But I think it is a telling statement of the US and traditional country culture that they could toss out these fine musicians so fast and support an ignorant ass like Toby Keith for bashing the Dixie Chicks. Bleck. He comes off as simple minded and as an opportunistic reactionary thug. So I say good luck, Dixie Chicks! I hope their new found freedom enables them to pursue their lives and their music into new directions.
