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“Edge” Documentary Sets Audiences Straight
12-Oct-2009
Written by: Robyn Chelsea-Seifert
Documentary explores the drug free counterculture known as straight edge.
It is a widely held understanding that straight edge involves practicing some degree of abstinence from alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. From it’s origin in the early 80’s these beliefs have spread all over the US and became a worldwide phenomenon. The idea of a drug free lifestyle became the foundation that unifies a certain group of people.
But do they share more than that? Can there be a differentiation and is there an evolution to be found? What about politics, activism, violence, feminism, vegetarianism/veganism, criticism, human and animal rights? “Edge,” the documentary by German filmmakers Marc Pierschel and Michael Kirchner explore the drug free subculture through in-depth interviews with 12 individuals including Ian MacKaye (Fugazi/The Evens), Ray Cappo (Youth of Today/Shelter) and Karl Buechner (Earth Crisis), who reveal how the straight edge lifestyle has changed their lives and what it means to them on a very personal level. Their reasons range from negative experiences with drugs to maintaining a healthy lifestyle to the political.
Ian MacKaye wrote the song “Straight Edge” for his band Minor Threat. The song described his own personal drug free lifestyle and criticism of the self-destructive idea of sex as a conquest, which served as part of the Sex, Drugs and Rock’n' Roll banner originating as a rebellion in the 1960s. As Minor Threat gained in popularity the band’s influence over youth culture increased as well. Over time many people adopted the philosophy of the song and bands began to label themselves “straight edge.”
“When I got into Punk in 1979, what was immediately compelling was this idea of deviancy that punks were different. They rejected conventional ideas of about any
number of subjects. And as somebody who felt like a deviant, because I didn’t get high like almost all of my friends in high school, I felt like I fit right in. But I was surprised to find out that so many punks, people who I thought would be respectful of differences and
different ways on looking at things because I quite felt respectful of their ideas, that they
were very derisive. They made fun of us too. They made fun of the straight kids. So when
Minor Threat started I decided to up the ante and I wrote the song ‘Straight Edge,” MacKaye recalls during the film.
Pierschel and Kirchner shot well over 40 hours of material and took almost two years to finalize what was originally a side project for their first full-length documentary. Many were originally interviewed for the project but had to be cut away for the films’ 90 minute final version to focus on individual characters and topics. The movie is not intended to be a who’s who of straight edge. Of course the straight edge lifestyle is not without its critics and the directors were mindful to keep a balanced perspective while filming. This is a brutally honest telling of the lifestyle where the audience will hear both positive and negative aspects throughout the film.
Featured interviews include Ray Cappo who served as vocalist for one of the most influential straight edge bands on the east coast; Karl Buechner, whose radical lyrics ranging from animal abuse to political corruption was often the subject of staunch criticism; animal rights activist Peter Young who was imprisoned for two years and indicted by a federal grand jury on charges stemming from fur farm raids in several States; and Taylor Clements, a 15 year old high school student from Santa Barbara hoping to be the first vegan straight edge pro cyclist.
“Edge” will be featured in several film festival for the month of October and screen at two international film festivals: the Mission Underground Film Festival in San Francisco and the Radar International Film Festival in Hamburg, Germany in addition to a three week mini tour of the US and Canada before heading to Europe.
For further information and to check out a trailer, please visit their website at www.edgethemovie.com
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