Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché

As a fan of X-ray Spex and Poly Styrene's solo work, I put off watching this for quite a while... Not wanting to mar my own long-held opinions of an incredible woman I never knew. OK, I was too young for X-Ray Spex at the time but did see Poly Styrene Brixton Academy in '91.

Celeste has given us a privileged peek into her mother's journey.

I had followed Poly Styrene's career and knew at a surface level her breakdowns. But wow this was raw. I Am a Cliche powerfully walks us through all that, both from Poly's perspective and also a child's innate needs-based perspective.

Watching this (eventually!) I celebrated the gigs and the interviews, and I sobbed through the struggles.

A unique approach was the use of interviewees as voice overs on scenes and footage, rather than seeing lots of talking heads that is common on similar tributes. This ensured the viewer's focus remained on the subjects, not the commentators.

A superb work of art. Not what everyone expected (from some of the reviews I've read). Highs of exuberance of creativity against an underlying unease of societal pressure and judgement. No one created good art to make people feel comfortable. Well done to Celeste, not only her mother's daughter, but the creative woman she has become both because of and despite her mother's creativity, receptiveness and vulnerability... and primarily from her own creativity, recognition of her own self worth and determination to define herself and know her needs. It's a wonderful tribute and a sensitive declaration of how a child of a revered person has their own truth to speak.

Big up marvellous audacity, bravery, and generally not giving two hoots what anyone else thinks.

While there ain't no answers from the cotton wool clouds, I Am a Cliche does answer questions of how an incredible woman influenced so many, while navigating being human with her own personal circumstances and cultural history. Just beautiful.