Positive Force: More Than a Witness – 30 Years of Punk Politics in Action (2014)

Positive Force, a punk activist group founded in 1985 after Revolution Summer, is the subject of this documentary by Robin Bell. The film combines rare archival footage—including live performances by Fugazi, Bikini Kill, Nation of Ulysses, Anti-Flag, and others—with new interviews featuring Positive Force founders like Mark Andersen, as well as supporters including Ian MacKaye, Ted Leo, and Allison Wolfe of Riot Grrrl. Over 25 years, the film explores Positive Force's beginnings during the Reagan era, the establishment of their communal home, FBI scrutiny, and the growth of an influential underground scene that gained wider attention while sparking debate about its methods and goals. In true punk spirit, Positive Force members have used creative, do-it-yourself approaches and strong critiques to address issues like homelessness, racism, corporate globalization, sexism, and war, all while navigating internal disagreements.