The late Poly Styrene (Marianne Joan Elliott-Said), who sang with the British punk act X-Ray Spex, probably hasn’t gotten the credit she’s deserved. A feminist punk icon before there were feminist punk icons, Elliot-Said left behind a remarkable legacy.

Who is Poly Styrene?, a 40-minute BBC documentary, shows how she struggled to accept celebrity status. “It isn’t normal for people to be surrounded by people telling them they’re great,” she says at one point in the movie.

The film includes scenes of her shopping at the market, lounging at home watching TV and playing the piano. We see her recite her lyrics as if they’re poetry and talk about her writing process. The movie even includes vintage footage of the band performing.

Akron’s Nightlight Cinema will screen the movie at 7 p.m. on Monday, July 11. Admission is free. 

This article appears in Jun 22-28, 2016.

Jeff has been covering the Cleveland music scene for more than 25 years now. On a regular basis, he tries to talk to whatever big acts are coming through town. And if you're in a local band that he needs to hear, email him at jniesel@clevescene.com.