The Punk Syndrome

Jukka Kärkkäinen and J-P Passi, 85 mins, 2012.

In Finnish with English sub-titles.

The Punk Syndrome follows a Finnish punk rock band whose members all are learning disabled, living with autism and Down Syndrome. The film employs a cinéma vérité style, meaning it doesn’t provide a commentary or explanatory captions to what is seen on screen.

The film shows the band members using punk music as an outlet to their frustration with everyday things, such as living in a group home, not being served coffee because of their disability and so on. During the film the band rises from total obscurity to become a small phenomenon, and they also get to travel outside Finland.

“a funny, edgy and very human feature” John Anderson, Variety “a very likable, relaxed film” Philip French, The Observer

Presented in association with November Films