The Runaways: Film Analysis Presentation

Directed by Floria Sigismondi, The Runaways (2010) follows Cherie Currie (Dakota Fanning) as she meets Joan Jett (Kristen Stewart), their fellow bandmates, as well as producer Kim Fowley (Michael Shannon). Based on Currie’s book, Neon Angel: Memoir of a Runaway, the film chronicles Currie's time as the lead singer of all-girl rock band The Runaways. This project analyzes the film's status as a biopic, along with a similar film, Alex Cox's "Sid and Nancy" (1986). The project continues with exploring the soundtrack, notably, the meaning behind using the track "I Wanna Be Your Dog" by The Stooges, and how it conveys the desire Jett and Currie have for one another, as well as their drug use. Through these themes, the song helps the audience understand Cherie and Joan’s submissive and unconventionality brought on by one another, music, and addictions. Currie's drug abuse is further examined in a Mise en Scène analysis, cementing the film's anti-drug stance, despite being a film with liberal ideology. Overall, this project takes a deep dive into how the film can be interpreted through multiple lenses.