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The Damned: Don't You Wish That We Were Dead

The Damned: Don't You Wish That We Were Dead

2015

Director

Wes Orshoski

Runtime

107 minutes

Average Rating

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Synopsis

From Lemmy filmmaker Wes Orshoski comes the story of the long-ignored pioneers of punk: The Damned, the first U.K. punks on wax and the first to cross the Atlantic. This authorized film includes appearances from Chrissie Hynde, Mick Jones (The Clash), Lemmy and members of Pink Floyd, Black Flag, GNR, the Sex Pistols, Blondie, Buzzcocks, and more. Shot around the globe over three years, the film charts the band's complex history and infighting, as it celebrated its 35th anniversary and found its estranged former members striking out on their own anniversary tour, while still others battle cancer.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

5.4/10

Fair

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The film operates within a punk milieu historically linked to queer liberation. However, the narrative focuses on biographical history rather than explicit explorations of LGBTQ+ identities.

Gender Representation

Fair

The presence of influential figures like Chrissie Hynde disrupts the male-dominated hierarchy of punk. This highlights female agency within a historically aggressive masculine musical space.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Fair

The narrative centers on a predominantly white, Anglo-Saxon musical movement. While the scope is global, the core subject matter reflects the specific demographics of 1970s UK punk.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

The documentary excels in depicting anti-establishment values and rebellion against Western institutions. It frames the band's outsider status as a form of empowerment against traditional social structures.

Disability Representation

Fair

The film documents band members facing significant health challenges, including battles with cancer. It portrays these struggles with realism and resilience rather than pure sentimentality.

Strengths

  • Strong depiction of anti-establishment values and counter-cultural rebellion.
  • Highlights female agency through the inclusion of icons like Chrissie Hynde.
  • Provides a realistic, non-sentimental look at members facing serious health challenges.

Areas for Improvement

  • Limited racial and ethnic intersectionality due to the specific historical subject matter.
  • Lacks explicit exploration of LGBTQ+ identities within the punk subculture.
  • The demographic focus remains largely centered on a white, Anglo-Saxon musical movement.

AI Analysis

The documentary serves as a vital archival record of the UK punk movement, prioritizing the history of non-conformist subcultures over mainstream commercial narratives. It successfully captures the essence of rebellion and the subversion of traditional authority. However, the film's demographic breadth is naturally constrained by the historical reality of the 1970s punk scene. This results in a lack of racial intersectionality and a primary focus on a white, Anglo-Saxon musical landscape. While the film lacks explicit focus on specific identity politics, it finds strength in documenting the complexities of human behavior and the resilience of individuals facing personal and health-related struggles.

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