Down and Out with the Dolls

Colour, 35mm
USA, 2000, 88 min
Section: Forum of Independents

Synopsis

Down and Out With the Dolls is a tale of the fast rise and fall of an all-girl, four-piece Portland rock band, The Paper Dolls. Working day jobs while dreaming of success, aspiring young rockers Kali, Lavender and Reggie get the jump start they need when local legend Fauna, singer for the obscure band The Snogs, joins them as lead singer. But Fauna, street-wise and opportunistic, just wants to use them on her way to stardom. The commercial direction in which Fauna is leading the band begins chipping away at their friendship. All comes to a head during a two-day party at the Doll House, a house they all move in to. The next morning, a body is found…someone is dead…and the Dolls’ world changes forever.

About the director

Kurt Voss began writing and directing movies immediately upon graduating from UCLA. The first, Border Radio (1988) he co-wrote and directed with schoolmate Allison Anders, with whom he later reunited. He also wrote screenplays for other directors. Films: Border Radio (1987, with Allison Anders and Dean Lent), Horseplayer (1990), Genuine Risk (1990), Baja (1995), Amnesia (1997), Poison Ivy: The New Education (1997), Below Utopia (1997), The Pass (1998), Sugar Town (1999, with Allison Anders), The Heist (1999), Down and Out with the Dolls (2000). Voss also co-authored the screenplay for Allison Anders’ latest film, Things Behind the Sun.