No Boys Allowed

What: Screening of “From the Back of the Room”

Where: Bryant-Lake Bowl, 810 W. Lake St., Minneapolis

When: 8 p.m., Jan. 30-31

Cost: $5-10

“From the Back of the Room” begins with a disclaimer that ends by saying, “Let’s make more room for each other. If we don’t do it, who will?” It is a fitting sentiment for a documentary that chronicles over two decades of female presence in punk music.

The film premiered in July 2011 and has had screenings in 20 states, as well as Canada and London. For the first time since August, the film will return to Minneapolis on Monday at Bryant-Lake Bowl.

In the course of filming, director and co-producer Amy Oden conducted roughly 50 interviews with female musicians, roadies, venue owners and photographers involved in the punk and D.I.Y. movement. This includes members of bands like Bikini Kill, Bratmobile and Kylesa. Also included are members of lesser known, but awesomely named bands like Whorehouse of Representatives and Optimus Crime.

“I made a deliberate decision not to interview any men because I wanted to have space for women’s voices,” Oden said. “Men’s opinions are heard all the time.”

Interspersed with interviews is an extensive archive of live hardcore and punk performances that span 25 years.

Even with the overarching message of inclusion and empowerment, the film’s female perspective is very positive. But at times, it’s also critical of punk on several levels — most commonly for sexism within the movement.

“As much as people like to imagine punk as a haven outside of dominant society, you can’t remove yourself from having been raised within a larger culture,” Oden said. “There’s going to be variation. Some people are cool and politically savvy, some just don’t care and some can have pretty oppressive views.”

Oden got her degree in broadcast journalism and has worked in television. For her, the film is a combination of two passions.

“It made sense to do a longer film about women in punk. It was sort of an illustration of myself.”

Filming brought Oden all over the country, with tours of the midwest as well as both coasts. The process and the film itself became very personal experiences.

“The main thing I took away from it that I wasn’t really expecting was feeling really close to my own history. This is a film I’m very connected with,” Oden said.

While the obvious audience for the film is fans of punk music and people already involved in the community, Oden feels anyone can appreciate and take something away from the film.

“One of the things I want people to take away is just the volume of experiences that these women have amassed,” Oden said. “Even more than that though, I think I was envisioning younger girls watching it and thinking, ‘I can do that. I should play in a band.”