SUZI Q looks at the life of the world’s first successful female rocker, Suzi Quatro
Welcome to the wonderful world of Suzi Quatro, the world’s first successful female rocker, and still one of it’s best. Also welcome to a fresh blast of fun, in a documentary which sticks to a straight forwards format, but delivers an absorbing, vivacious and colourful story that charts the life of someone who’s not just a great Rock ‘n Roll artist, but an icon for her age, and, a really nice human being too.
Born in 1950, in that toughest of American cities, Detroit, Suzi came from a fairly normal back ground. Her Father was a musician, as were, and are her sisters. However, carved from very individual clay, and a free spirit in every way, Suzi headed into the music industry at a very young age. That this has had ramifications for her family relationships is sadly clear to see but, ‘a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do,’ seems to have been her motto, and clearly worth it as the path of what is a truly individual person, celebrating that right. Sure, the journey to success, was very, very tough, but what comes across is not only Suzi’s desire to be a female rocker, but just how much she valued being a free-thinking humanitarian too.
Years ahead of her time, she just ignored the whole gender issue and got on with being a great musician first.
Years ahead of her time, she just ignored the whole gender issue and got on with being a great musician first. This has worked very well, because although the old clips from the 1970’s onwards, of her being interviewed, often show interviewers trying to pull her in on the gender question, and many questions are just simply biased because of old gender based, stereotypical attitudes, guess what? She remains firm on her art, and who she is as a human being first and foremost.
Now, 50 years into a long, eclectic and ridiculously successful career, Suzi has also managed two long term marriages, brought up two kids and still looks great. She still tours and still has a great time, all without the drugs ‘n booze often associated with this career choice.
SUZI Q is about one very interesting lady no matter your stance on Rock Music.
Well put together and directed by Liam Firmager, this is a film about one very interesting lady no matter your stance on Rock Music. The material has been well researched, and time taken to document her life in a way that really shows the questions, conflicts and challenges, the triumphs, accolades and success of this very talented artist. The camera work is solid and shows what it needs to well.
A must see for any female artist in any field, who wants to be seen for her art first and foremost. However, it’s also clear just how much of a real woman Suzi Quatro is, but far from exploiting her gender, the leather cat suits she famous for, celebrate her femininity, and seem to say, ‘so I’m strong and gorgeous and pretty, now show me some respect.’ Well, no argument there, even if this power-house lady is set in a tiny 5ft frame, and yes, Suzi Quatro is her real name.
★★★★★
SUZI Q is in selected UK Cinemas from 7th October 2019.
Jane Foster
janecreates@23-films.com
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