Article written for the Examiner
‘Hit So Hard’ is a drugumentary, er… rockumentary about the life and near-death of drummer Patty Schemel, a member of Nineties rock band, Hole.
Patty joined Courtney Love’s band, Hole, in 1992. Love was married to one of rock’s “27 Club” casualties, Kurt Cobain—the leader of Nirvana, a multi-platinum grunge band that formed in 1986 and transformed the sound of the 90s. Patty Schemel and her tight group of friends-slash-musicians went from sharing tiny Seattle apartments to international stardom.
Nirvana’s album “Nevermind” turned the rockers into overnight millionaires, which is not always a good thing. Kurt Cobain shot and killed himself in 1994 at his Seattle mansion. Two months later Hole’s bass player Kristen Pfaff died of a heroin overdose. Patty Schemel was smack in the middle of it all.
Hit So Hard’s director, P. David Ebersole, said Schemel brought her a box filled with 40-plus hours of never-before-seen video footage from Hole tours. Patty shot the 35mm on Hi-8 and, afraid it would disintegrate, asked Ebersole’s advice on how to preserve it.
Ebersole felt Schemel’s rollercoaster life lent itself to a documentary-style film. The movie is made up of current day interviews—including scene-stealing moments with Schemel’s mom—blended with archival material, still photos, and peppered with powerful behind-the-scenes home video.
The story is about surviving the treacherous territory of overnight rock success. It depicts Schemel’s high place in rock as one of the few famous female drummers, her sudden wealth, ever-worsening addiction, rehabs, and eventually prostitution and homelessness. After recovery and redemption Schemel has lived to tell the tale.
Add a star for Hole and Nirvana fans. Release date: April 13, 2012 at Cinema Village, 22 East 12th Street. 103 minutes. Not rated.