Pauline Black: A 2-Tone Story
Jane Mingay / United Kingdom / 2024 / International Premiere / 92 min
The absolute frontwoman of the 2-Tone movement is a British style icon with a strong political stance and the voice to get it out into the world.
As lead singer of The Selecter, Pauline Black was the absolute frontwoman for the fusion of punk, mod-rock and ska that swept England in the late 1970s. A period marked by racism, hopelessness and a right wing on a roll. But Pauline Black (who chose her own surname) had the voice, attitude and style to fight back. With her own experience as the daughter of a Nigerian man in white Essex in the 1960s, she had experienced racism and sexism first hand. And now enough was enough. To the rhythm of a light-speed backbeat, The Selecter combined punk attitude with a clear political message, and with Black as the high-energy centerpiece, the party also became a protest. Today, Pauline Black can look back on a career spanning more than 40 years, but the fight against racism and sexism is as important as ever. She also remains one of the best dressed people on the planet.