Review of Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing (2006) by Gareth M — 07 Oct 2007

This really is a great year for documentary. Normally a movie about The Dixie Chicks would hold zero interest for me, having no interest in the band or the styles of music they play. I recongise that they are hugely talented but it's just not my thing.

The interest in this film for me came from the look into censorship, media influence and public perception. Whilst these were key themes of the film, the focus was kept on the effect of the events on the lives of the three band members, and as usual the human side of the story is more engaging than the politics.

The event in question came about when the lead singer of The Dixie Chicks excersised her right to free speech by informing a crowd, on the eve of the Iraq invasion, that she was ashamed that the U.S. President was from their home state of Texas. The backlash against the band grew out of control as the Presidents supporters, also the bands target demographic, turned against them. With mass boycotts, bans from broadcast, protests and even death threats not only were their musical career at risk, but their lives as well.

The documentary shifts back and forth between the immediate backlash, when the band members discover how big this issue was becoming, to more recent years when they started recording music again. As mentioned before, the strength of the film lies in the human element as we she the band pull together, refuse to back down over their opinions and keep their friendship and family the foremost element in their lives (and it was a surprise to find out that the flying man from 'Heroes' is married to the lead singer).

It's hard not to admire The Dixie Chicks as their continue to come under fire simply because their opinion didn't coincide with that of their audiences, and how quickly they become a public enemy. During the film you could sense the audience barracking the group and stirrings of anger as Bush, Jr. responds by saying they shouldn't 'get upset because some people don't want to buy their albums' (although Natalie Maines' response was fantastic).

The director hasn't gone down the same path of many modern doco film-makers by not directly stating an opinion, opting instead to present the events as they happened. The films position is quite clear, but doesn't feel forced. Footage of a hearing in which an 'independant' radion station in labelled hyprocrites after taking a direct order from their corperate sponsers in regards to broadcast content do speak for themselves.

Overall a very worthwhile viewing experience that has its finger on the pulse of the current political and media climate, and how subversive public character assissination has become.