PKN, a band of four men with developmental disabilities, is Europe's no. 1 punk rock act. The guys have spent years on the road, including a legendary performance at the Eurovision Song Contest. However, PKN's leader is turning 60 and wants to retire, which causes calamity within the band. Post-Punk Disorder follows the last years of this extraordinary group in a riotous challenge to all our assumptions around disability.
POST-PUNK DISORDER is a feature length documentary about the punk-rock band Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät (PKN) formed by four mentally disabled men. The band’s story is coming to an end, since the maestro of the band, Pertti Kurikka, is going to retire in December 2016. The film follows the last years of this historical band. At the beginning things are running smoothly: what started as a small workshop project for people with disabilities has taken big proportions, and Pertti along with the other band members have become celebrities. Their latest album was released by a major record label, and the band has turned its operation into a limited company. Together, the unlikely quartet continues their conquest of the World. In 2014 they did an extensive tour in the United Kingdom, and in 2015 the band historically represented Finland in the Eurovision song contest, with their 1 minute 26 second punk-rock song ”Aina mun pitää” (I Always Have To). The band made it to the semi-finals , but despite being one of the favorites they were not selected to the final. Europe was not ready for them. Yet. Nevertheless, PKN played for over 100 million television spectators, and secured thousands of new fans. Today PKN is now one of the most famous punk rock bands in Europe, they play better than ever and remain faithful to the genre. The music is straightforward and the lyrics deal with the reality of their lives in a very critical manner – as expected in punk music. Earlier songs revolved mostly around criticism of politicians, but now the band is drawing more on everyday observations and the reality of residential care, which can be deduced from the titles of their recent songs: My Toothbrush Was Stolen, Life in a Group Home, and so on. Pertti’s decision to retire has, caused hard feelings in the other members. Especially Sami – the bass player and Pertti’s long-standing nemesis – would like everything to go on for at least 20 years. This and other conflicts between different members keep the band on the brink of breaking up. Pertti is sorry for the animosity, but also excited to know that soon no one will be bossing him around. He says he won’t miss rock'n'roll lifestyle when it ends. A significant phase in the lives of these four men is coming to its end. But it comes with style, at the top of their careers.
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