Girls Rock
One of the funnest docs released in 2008 so far is most definitely "Girls Rock.”

Directed by co-filmmakers Arne Johnson and Shane King, a film that, as one reviewer aptly described it, is equal parts rockumentary and tearjerker. “Girls Rock” takes us inside the Portland Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp for Girls, where girls from eight to 18 come to learn how to get their groove on but derive other useful life lessons.

Johnson and King focus their attention on four girls, who, despite their varied backgrounds, learn to, in the span of five days, write, play and perform songs, bonding with newfound band mates in the process. When we say varied backgrounds, we mean varied. How about Laura, an adopted Korean with a taste for death metal? Or Misty, who in her young life has endured meth addiction and homelessness. Or Palace, an eight-year-old who has the heavy metal sneer down pat already. Or Amelia, who throws herself into writing 14 songs about her dog. (Kind of reminds you of Lili Taylor’s character in “Say Anything,” doesn’t it? Who can forget “Joe lies. Joe lies?”)

As “Girls Rock” clearly shows, it isn’t easy being young and female. From low self-esteem to drugs to eating disorders and sexual harassment, life can be one big minefield for girls, some of whom learn coping skills and some of whom don’t.

If every young lady of a certain age could attend a rock and roll camp—and the Portland camp has spawned numerous imitators around the world—the problems inherent with youth and gender could be turned back with a blast of Fender-driven empowerment.

The Portland camp assistant director Jen Agosta tells the campers, “it’s 100 percent OK to be exactly who you are,” and darned if her young charges don’t buy into that message. There’s something about wielding a guitar and singing their lungs out into a microphone that makes these girls come alive, some of them for the first time.

“I’ve been waiting for so long to finally admit to myself that I’m amazing, and I really am,” Laura says in ‘Girls Rock.’ “Everyone is beautiful in their own way. They get even better when they decide to be powerful and they decide to rock.”

“Girls Rock” is currently making its way to an art house theater near you, but if you miss it, the film will be released on DVD in September.

C.D.