Alison Ellwood, a talent focused on culture documentaries, dives into the story of the beloved 1980s British band Culture Club in her new film. The journey of the quartet – singer Boy George, bassist Mikey Craig, guitarist Roy Hay, and drummer Jon Moss – is told in their own words and supported by colorful archival material. Along the way, stories behind the hit songs are revealed, as well as the romances and crises within the group.
The history of Culture Club forms one of rock history’s epic rise and fall narratives, intensified not only by the demonic force of fame but also by the complicated romance between George and Jon, and later by the singer’s brutal drug addiction. The path was made even rockier by the spotlight which focused almost entirely on the frontman. Even the title of Ellwood’s film suggests that the band consisted of one larger-than-life diva and three talented supporting musicians. The media was interested only in George and his androgynous style. This imbalance of power is reflected in the documentary as a sharp human drama, where former friends became a club of conflict – yet it never strips the band’s music of its original joy.
At the same time, the audience can witness the position of the LGBTQ+ community in the early 1980s and the important pioneering work that the colorful group carried out during its brief golden era.
Topi E. Timonen