The Go-Go's

Alison Ellwood's documentary is about the Go-Go's, the first all-woman band to write their own songs, play their own instruments and reach a number one album. The group formed in the Los Angeles punk scene and reached the top of the pop charts within a few years. The best sections cover the early years. When the band formed most of the members could barely play their instruments, which was not a problem in the punk scene; becoming professional then strained them both musically and personally. The reasons for the break-up are addressed openly: the division of songwriting royalties, addiction and the balance of power inside the band. All five members speak and their accounts sometimes contradict each other. Ellwood makes no attempt to reconcile them. Who it's for: those interested in eighties pop and the history of women's bands. Who it's not for: viewers expecting a harmonious group portrait; the documentary puts the disagreements at its centre.