7/2/2020 FILM: 'BORN IN FLAMES,' RADICAL FEMINIST IDEAS - The New York Times

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FILM: 'BORN IN FLAMES,' RADICAL FEMINIST IDEAS

Born in Flames Directed by Lizzie Borden Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi Not Rated 1h 20m

By Janet Maslin

Nov. 10, 1983

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November 10, 1983, Section C, Page 17 Buy Reprints

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7/2/2020 FILM: 'BORN IN FLAMES,' RADICAL FEMINIST IDEAS - The New York Times

THE futuristic feminism of Lizzie Borden's ''Born in Flames'' is livelier than might be
expected, with its militancy even accompanied by a modicum of topical humor. Set 10
years after a socialist revolution in the United States, it tells of a society in which armed
bands of whistle- blowing female bicyclists swoop down on would-be rapists, and of male
construction workers who protest that their female colleagues are monopolizing the best
jobs.

Lizzie Borden (that is her real name), whose film opened at the Film Forum yesterday,
does not develop these or any other notions very elaborately. Instead, she presents a
variety of radical feminist ideas, without much attention to the narrative that contains
them. When militant black lesbians encounter white feminist punk musicians, for
instance, there is so much ideology to be dealt with that ordinary exposition is out of the
question.

The film is set up as a series of encounters, montages and improvised- sounding political
discussions that finally erupts into terrorist activity of an unusual nature. When this
development is reported by the media, the participants are described as a ''girl gang,''
which is indication of the screenplay's brand of humor. Miss Borden wrote the film, as
well as produced, directed and edited it.

Even with its brash and very natural performers (including Flo Kennedy, the political
activist, and a basketball player named Jeanne Satterfield who is very effective in the role
of a black lesbian leader) and its loud feminist-rock accompaniment, ''Born in Flames''
feels more like a manifesto than anything else. There is nothing particularly cinematic in
its conception. Miss Borden's montages feel like isolated, still images of women in various
walks of life rather than closely woven variations on particular themes, and her
characters' rhetoric can be windy in the extreme.

It is not the stridency that mars ''Born in Flames''; if anything, that is the film's best
feature, producing an aggressive energy that Miss Borden sometimes channels well. But
''Born in Flames,'' while inventive, is also much too diffuse and overcrowded. Only those
who already share Miss Borden's ideas are apt to find her film persuasive.

Future Society BORN IN FLAMES, produced, directed and edited by Lizzie Borden;
camera by Ed Bowes and Al Santana; story consultant, Ed Bowes; music by The Bloods,
Ibis, The Red Crayola; distributed by First Run Features. At the Film Forum, 57 Watts
Street. Running time: 90 minutes. This film is not rated. Honey (Phoenix Radio)Honey
Isabel (Radio Regazza)Adele Bertei Adelaide NorrisJeanne Satterfield Zella WylieFlo
Kennedy Socialist Youth Review EditorsPat Murphy, Kathryn Bigelow, Becky Johnston
FBI AgentsRon Vawter, John Coplans Women in ArmyHillary Hurst, Sheila McLaughlin,
Marty Pottenger TV NewscastersJohn Rudolph, Valerie Smaldone, Warner Schreiner

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7/2/2020 FILM: 'BORN IN FLAMES,' RADICAL FEMINIST IDEAS - The New York Times

Born in Flames
Director Lizzie Borden

Writer Lizzie Borden

Stars Honey, Adele Bertei, Jean Satterfield, Florynce Kennedy, Becky Johnston
Rating Not Rated

Running Time 1h 20m

Genres Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi

A version of this article appears in print on Nov. 10, 1983, Section C, Page 17 of the National edition with the headline: FILM: 'BORN IN
FLAMES,' RADICAL FEMINIST IDEAS

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