La Femme International Film Festival

Anarchy in High Heels: The Story of Les Nickelettes

Available in 09d 05h 57m 22s
Available October 22, 2026 7:01 AM UTC
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Anarchy in High Heels tells the story of Les Nickelettes, a women's satirical musical theater company from 1970s and 80s San Francisco. They sang, they mocked, they disrupted and they did it in heels. Emerging from the late-night underground of 1970s San Francisco, The Les Nickelettes carved out a space that was entirely their own, where performance became protest and humor carried a sharp, liberating edge. Anarchy in High Heels revisits this fearless collective through a vivid tapestry of archival performance and lived memory, capturing the rhythm, color, and irreverence of a moment when women refused to be sidelined—on stage or off. Before the language of empowerment became familiar, these women were already shaping it in real time through satire, music, and unapologetic presence. Their work wasn't just entertainment; it was collaboration, resistance, and invention, unfolding in a cultural landscape that rarely made room for voices like theirs. The film traces this lineage of creative defiance with warmth and admiration, allowing the echoes of their performances to resonate across generations. What emerges is both a tribute and a rediscovery a portrait of artists who transformed the stage into a space of possibility, where laughter and rebellion could coexist.

  • Year
    03/19/2026 00:00
  • Runtime
    1:27:45
  • Language
    English
  • Country
    United States
  • Subtitle Language
    English
  • Awards
    SF DocFest San Franciso May 30, 2026 Bay Area Premiere United States
  • Social Media
  • Director
    Betsy Newman
  • Screenwriter
    Denise Larson
  • Producer
    Debra Pollock, Ronnie Sanlo, Kelly Watson, Valerie Hellmold, Judith Sciford, Denise Larson, Betsy Newman
  • Filmmaker
    Betsy Newman
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