She Said Boom: the Story of Fifth Column is a feature length documentary film about the multi-disciplinary post-punk group Fifth Column, a group of women from Toronto who formed in 1981 and ended up collaborating for almost twelve years. Fifth Column formed with the intention of reimagining what it meant to be in “a band”, and as self-proclaimed outsiders, decided that they would create a malleable space within which to collaborate with other artists and outsiders, whether they were musicians, photographers, or filmmakers, all of these things became one. As the project continued over its 12 year run, this inclusivity spread through cult filmmaking, and self publication of magazines to strongly represent the Queer movement. This story explores how these women went on to kick-start the Do-It-Yourself art making generation and inspire other groups of young women and men all over the world for the following generations, such as the Riot Grrrl and Queercore movements. Their commitment to working outside a capitalist structure made it impossible for them to claim their due as musicians and artists, despite having garnered worldwide notoriety for their work. It also explores the contributions of this group of young people to the core of Canada’s rich subculture, and investigates the reasons these cultures often slip through the cracks of our history and art-heritage.

Between the years 1977 and 1979 the Punk Rock movement thrashed itself into existence, and destroyed the hippy and disco eras in one broad sweep. The future seemed to hold two choices for young adults either go to business school, or become artists. This film is about a group of young women from Toronto who chose to do the latter. The rules of youth culture had been rewritten – and the possibilities for young people making music and art were unlimited. This was the birth of the Post-Punk era, whose most notorious acts came out of New York City’s dilapidated lower-east side. An inclusive free-for-all of musicians, painters, photographers, performance artists and filmmakers combined into one big scene that redefined the future of all of these categories. This film explores how Fifth Column applied not only music, but filmmaking, DIY self-publication and mail art, and activism to their
The three core members of the band, Caroline Azar, Beverly Breckenridge and G.B. Jones help tell their story here – along with other former members of the group and their friends, such as notorious filmmaker and controversial artist Bruce LaBruce, who helped create the hugely impactful J.D’s fanzine with Jones. The film also features activist, musician and writer Kathleen Hanna (Le Tigre, Bikini Kill) who fronted the Riot Grrrl movement, as well as performance artist and musician Vaginal Davis.

LETTERBOXED •••• "Great documentary about an important band and the origins of Queercore!"

HOT DOCS: "An historical document with a strong and living pulse"

SHAMELESS; "The greatest band you have never heard of Fifth Column"