FILM OF THE WEEK: Teaches of Peaches

Pickings are slim with new releases this week, but along with a screening of the 1988 Miyazaki film My Neighbour Totoro, the GAZE film festival in Dublin is giving us plenty of cinematic offerings to enjoy this weekend.

On Friday night, GAZE is screening Teaches of Peaches, exploring the life and work of Canadian Merril Nisker, aka Peaches, whose 2000 album The Teaches of Peaches (re-released in 2002) became an iconic record of sex, fun, debauchery and dance. Bold, bi and bolshy, Peaches not only created a splash on the music scene, but modelled what queer joy, sex and energy could feel like on records and on stage.

Directed by Philipp Fussenegger and Judy Landkammer, the documentary features an incredible archive of early footage and home videos of Nisker, including clips of her teaching music at a daycare centre, early gigs in Berlin with her band The Shit and interviews showing the preparation for her 2022 concert tour, which marked the 20th anniversary of her breakout album. Backstage and rehearsal footage capture the energy and connection of Peaches’ crew and collaborators, as mullets, hair bleach, ripped fishnets, giant condom balloons, dancing vaginas and leotards emblazoned with ‘Thank God For Abortion’ create a visual of queer punk power.

Fussenegger and Landkammer’s editing is kinetic and punchy, quickly cutting through old gig footage and home videos while synth music pulses in the background. New interviews with Nisker and long-time friends and collaborators Feist, Mingnon and Chilly Gonzales provide insight into Nisker’s early partying and recording days, including her stint in a cockroach-infested apartment where the rent was cheap and the inspiration was flowing.

Nisker reflects on the impact of early hits like ‘Fuck The Pain Away’ on her life. The only recording of the track was on a cassette tape, which was sold to Peaches for five dollars by the sound engineer from the first show she played the song at. It’s still her most well-known tune, speaking to issues of shame, torment, heartbreak and survival in her trademark confrontational, unapologetic and undeniably hot style. Her work wasn’t always appreciated – her first appearance on Top Of The Pops flopped and Sony buried her album, fearing that the world wasn’t ready for her. Her pro-choice stance was also challenged at many points.

Her determination to portray female sexual power and break gender norms is evident in Nisker's earliest interviews, but as time progressed, her political views became more mainstream. Her current shows contain elements of fun and camp, showing how the meaning and resonance of her performances can still evolve and hold different tones.

Blending eras and capturing the sometimes aggressive, often playful, ever nonconforming energy of its lead, Teaches Of Peaches will make you want to dance amongst strangers in a sea of sweat and glitter. Shake yer dix, shake yer tits indeed.

Teaches Of Peaches is screening in the IFI as part of GAZE on Friday August 2nd. Tickets available at gaze.ie.