This documentary film follows a Finnish punk rock band whose members have a love-hate relationship with the world and with each other. We see them bickering at rehearsals, tired and strung-out on the tour bus and pumped up after a triumphant gig. Pretty standard fare you might imagine. What gives The Punk Syndrome its unique edge, however, is that each of the four band-mates has a developmental disability which finds them in a supported living arrangement in a group home. Using a cinéma vérité style, devoid of commentary or context-setting captions, the lives of the four band members are slowly revealed to us in a thoughtful, sensitive and non-judgemental way. We find that, like anyone drawn to punk anywhere, the band, particularly main songwriter Pertti, use punk rock music as an outlet for their frustrations and anger at a world that sidelines and ignores them. Pertti fills his journal with his observations on life and these are transformed seamlessly into powerful, honest lyrics which fit neatly into punk rock's classic recurring themes; discrimination for being different, the dull condescension of the "normal" world, the lack of dignity, equality and respect for those who don't or can't quietly conform.
The actual music of the band is classic rudimentary punk - think early Ramones - but effectively arranged and performed. We also get a glimpse into the lives of each of the band members outside of music and it is these parts of the film which are the most emotionally hard-hitting. The scenes with the sweet-natured drummer, Toni, are particularly effective - we watch as his aging parents gently try to confront him with the fact that one day they will die and not be there to support him, and we see his unrequited love for a woman who loves another. The scene where Pertti explains to the band's friend/manager that he didn't attend his own mother's funeral as no-one thought it was important to invite him is also deeply tinged with sadness, hurt and anger.
Despite these moments, this film never descends into weepy-eyed hand-wringing over the lives of its subjects. The directors keep the tone generally upbeat and energetic and there is lots of humour in the band member's brutally honest but likable personalities. To sum up - The Punk Syndrome manages to be funny and poignant and respectful to its subjects whilst making a powerful case for the liberating power of punk rock music.
