Rock School

Synopsis: The Paul Green School of Rock Music in Philadelphia is run for kids aged 9 to 17 and has one aim – to get them rockin'.

Rock School (not to be confused with Richard Linklater's excellent and thematically-related 2003 film, School Of Rock ) is billed as “a kick-ass documentary”. The main ass-kicking that goes on is done by the school’s founder and teacher Paul Green, as he alternately cajoles and encourages, but mainly yells at and abuses his students. The doco is as much about Paul as it is about the kids, and it is a terrific thematic union: a look at what it takes to make it in show-biz (nature and talent vs bloody hard practice) and a glimpse into the personality and role of a man prepared to devote his life to teaching kids to rock out.

By his own admission Paul is a failed guitar god and so we ask, by running the school, is he selflessly fostering their talent or living vicariously through his students? Because the film is shot in a very intimate style, using only a lightweight unobtrusive camera, we are privy to many of Paul’s tantrums, distressing arguments between him and students, and yet there is always a balance; just as we think we hate this guy, he then makes some self-deprecating comment or we see him being totally encouraging and supportive. Hosting the Black Sabbath concert Paul proclaims “Tonight’s about Satan” and again we are left questioning the appropriateness of his approach. And yet his devotion to the cause is unflagging – he gives his own baby son a plectrum and full sized guitar to play with, and entertains the tacker with heavy-metal rock.

The kids themselves are an amazing crew: the opening scene of 12 year old C.J. Tywoniak faithfully rendering Santana’s "Black Magic Woman" is a jaw-dropper. Madi is from a Quaker background and retrains her voice from pure sweet folk, to voice-wrenching rock. 9 year old twins Asa and Tucker are a worry. With a mother who lives off faded rock'n'roll dreams, they are being made old before their years, having spiked hair, black fingernails and inappropriately but hilariously screaming heavy rock at the top of their tiny lungs. Then there is 16 year old once-suicidal Will, who claims that he’d be dead if it weren’t for Paul and Rock School.

The film acquired an almost accidental three-act structure: after filming began, there was an invitation for the kids to go to Germany to perform at the Zappanale, an annual event in which bands pay tribute to Frank Zappa, often hailed as the creator of some of the most complex rock music ever. The build-up towards the big event is engrossing and tense, and the concert itself inspiring with a couple of wonderful surprises.

Director Argott runs a production company specialising in music videos, and so he has the rules fairly well under his belt. Argott knows it is critical to respect the integrity of musicians, and not to indulge in any arty-farty camera angles and editing. This he does well, especially in the final concert sequence.

As the twins say, “Long Live Rock” and I say if you love music and/or teaching, don’t miss Rock School.

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