Radical feminist Lizzie Borden directed, produced and co-wrote Born in Flames a dystopian docudrama, an anarchic subversive film, which explored racism and sexism in an alternate society that is socialist-democratic.
Grade: B (*** out of *****)
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The film’s title comes from the song “Born in Flames” written by Mayo Thompson of the band Red Krayola, a member of Art & Language
The plot concerns two feminist groups in New York City, each voicing their ideas via pirate radio.
One group, led by the outspoken white lesbian Isabel, operates Radio Ragazza. The other group, led by the soft-spoken African-American Honey, operates Phoenix Radio.
The community is driven into action after political activist Adelaide Norris is arrested upon arriving at a New York City airport, and later suspiciously dies while in police custody.
Meanwhile, a Women’s Army led by Hilary Hurst and advised by Zella is taking direct action in the city. This group, along with Norris and the radio stations, are under investigation by the FBI.
Their progress is tracked by editors for a socialist newspaper, whose journalism ultimately gets them fired.
The story attempts to how sexism plays out on the street and how it can be combatted. In one scene, two men attack a woman on the street, but dozens of women on bicycles with whistles intervene and chase the men away.
The movie shows that, despite ideological and personal differences, women can unite by organizing meetings, doing radio shows, creating art.
The film portrays a world rife with violence against women, high female unemployment, and government oppression. The only way women can have impact is by using organized terror.
Initially, both Honey and Isabel refuse to join. But after both radio stations are burned down, Honey and Isabel team up and broadcast from stolen U-Haul vans. They join the Women’s Army, which sends a group of terrorists to interrupt a broadcast of the U.S. president, during which they demand that women get paid for doing housework.
The film ends with the women taking action by bombing the antenna on top of the World Trade Center in order to hinder messages coming from the mainstream media.
This film marks the first screen appearance of Eric Bogosian, who plays a technician at a TV station, forced at a gunpoint to run a videotape, and it also features a rare appearance of director Kathryn Bigelow.
Story contributor Ed Bowes portrays the head of the socialist newspaper that ultimately fires the female journalists.
An underground feature, made on ultra-low budget, Born in Flames was an sampler of guerilla filmmaking, using real news footage and real police violence” and that the ”
In an interview, Borden said, “I could only shoot once a month, when I had $200,…I would gather everyone in this old Lincoln Continental I kept parked in front of my loft, go somewhere and shoot, and then I’d spend the interim just editing.”
Cast
Honey as Honey, host of the Phoenix Radio
Adele Bertei as Isabel, host of the Radio Ragazza
Jean Satterfield as Adelaide Norris
Florynce Kennedy as Zella Wylie
Becky Johnston as Becky Dunlop, newspaper editor
Pat Murphy as Pat Crosby, newspaper editor
Kathryn Bigelow as Kathy Larson, newspaper editor
Hillary Hurst as the leader of Women’s Army
Sheila McLaughlin as a leader
Marty Pottenger as other leader
Bell Chevigny as Belle Gayle, the talk show host
Joel Kovel as the talk show guest
Ron Vawter as FBI Agent
John Coplans as chief
Credits:
Directed, produced, edited by Lizzie Borden
Written by Ed Bowes, Lizzie Borden (uncredited)
Produced by Lizzie Borden
Cinematography: Ed Bowes Al Santan, Michael Oblowitz, Lizzie Borden
Music by Ibis, Red Krayola
Distributed by First Run Features
Release date: February 20, 1983
Running time: 90 minutes
