The Decline of Western Civilization

Watch: The Decline of Western Civilization

Unrated

7/1/19811h 40m

Theatrical Release (US)

~ See it in a theater.... where you can't get hurt. ~

Overview:

The Los Angeles punk music scene circa 1980 is the focus of this film. With Alice Bag Band, Black Flag, Catholic Discipline, Circle Jerks, Fear, Germs, and X.

Director:

Penelope Spheeris

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$100,000.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Key words:

nihilism
self-destruction
interview
punk rock
los angeles, california
subculture
punk band
woman director
teen rebel
live music
diy culture
underground music
independent cinema
slam dancing

Cast

Eugene Tatu

~ as ~

Self

Alice Bag

~ as ~

Self

Claude Bessy

~ as ~

Self

Dinah Cancer

~ as ~

Self

Exene Cervenka

~ as ~

Self

Lorna Doom

~ as ~

Self

Darby Crash

~ as ~

Self

Don Bolles

~ as ~

Self

Philo Cramer

~ as ~

Self

John Doe

~ as ~

Self

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

t
talisencrw
Written 9 year(s) ago
9
Though I both am neither a punk aficionado (I have seen X live in Detroit in 2008) nor an expert on Spheeris' films (I have seen and enjoyed both 'Wayne's World' and 'Little Rascals'), this was very satisfying. The energy and spirit of these rebellious youths really comes across well, and the clever assertion from one of the interviewees that punk is simply another form of folk and protest music, albeit with different instruments and at a faster speed, rings true. Though I'm not privy to the Los Angeles scene (I'm from Windsor, Ontario, for crying out loud), it appears to be quite an accurate depiction, although it doesn't seem to grab hold, perhaps, of the underground movement. Seeing this, I look forward to the latter two parts of the trilogy, and only wish over the years that Spheeris had expanded her sights, and made documentaries of other, vital, forms of music in L.A., such as folk, hip-hop, rap, jazz, classical, experimental, even soundtrack work for films, since Hollywood is right nearby, and as someone already part of the filmmaking scene, she would have had access to some of the greats of our time.