SPILL FILM REVIEW: INDIGO GIRLS – IT’S ONLY LIFE AFTER ALL

INDIGO GIRLS – IT’S ONLY LIFE AFTER ALL

OSCILLOSCOPE LABORATORIES

MAY 7, 2024

After an official Canadian release in April 2024, Oscilloscope Laboratories celebrates the digital release of the Indigo Girls documentary, It’s Only Life After All. Directed by Alexandria Bombach, this film covers a lot of ground. Beginning with Emily Saliers’ and Amy Ray’s early lives in Decatur, Georgia, to their reconvening as a musical duo at college, and eventual emergence as the Indigo Girls, this documentary delves deeply into the lives and careers of these two artists.

Like many music documentaries, the film explores the Indigo Girls’ history through the use of archival photos and video. Old interview clips juxtaposed with contemporary conversations provide context into Ray and Saliers’ relationship as friends and music partners. What sets this work apart from the traditional “rock doc” format is the involvement of fans’ voices throughout the film, and (importantly) the social, political, and gender-based issues that have followed the duo through the years.

For the fans, the idea that ‘the Indigo Girls saved my life’ is a common thread. One fan notes that, “It was huge to have the Indigo Girls as role models. It inspired me to pursue a career in music – I sing opera now. It’s great, just the inspiring message of not only your accountability to the community, but also to be who you are, has really made a difference in my life.” Such testimonials speak to the strength of the music, and the community that Ray and Saliers have created.

As queer women, the Indigo Girls have had to deal with more than their share of homophobia and misogyny, especially as they were carving out their place in the music business and finding their audience. To this point, Amy Ray notes in an archival interview with Charlie Rose, “I think our political outspokenness has been the biggest hurdle on anything, whether it’s gay rights or pro-choice, or the death penalty. Women who are outspoken or earnest – for rock critics, that’s a hard one. They can’t get their head around it. They can understand Rage Against the Machine, but they don’t understand the Indigo Girls.”

Comments like the one above can be found throughout the documentary, as Ray and Saliers have been dealing with anti-gay and misogynistic attitudes for their whole lives. What shines through in the film is, despite fact that mainstream society has grown in its understanding and acceptance of the queer community, there is still much growing to be done towards acceptance and reconciliation with marginalized communities. The work of the Indigo Girls has done much in the area of activism and raising awareness, which leads us to greater understanding.

In addition to the larger issues, the film also deals with Saliers’ and Ray’s personal lives. Aspects such as coming out, alcoholism, anger issues ,and parenthood are discussed, as is their differing ways as musicians, as songwriters, and as people. It’s Only Life After All is an honest take, which celebrates the Indigo Girls in all they have accomplished. This film is well worth seeing, whether one is a dedicated follower, or a passing fan. There is so much to appreciate here.

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