Frank Rogala, his younger brother Vince Rogala, and their friend Robin Canada were three aspiring musicians who left their hometown in northern Michigan and moved to Southern California in the early '80s, convinced that with hard work, determination, and talent, a career in music would be theirs. Frank, Vince, and Robin formed a new wave band called Exude, which soon scored a regional hit single, "Boys Just Want To Have Sex," and they were certain that with the right breaks success would be just around the corner. Nearly two decades later, Exude had evolved into an idiosyncratic hard rock outfit called NC-17, and after many years of struggling to score a record deal or simply make a living off of their music, they learned far more than they ever dreamed there was to know about the music industry. Up against A&R representatives who can hardly be bothered to search out new bands, label executives who aren't even sure who is on their artist roster at a given time, record deals that ensure most musicians will never see a dime from the sales of their records, and club owners more interested in selling beer than presenting worthwhile music, NC-17 find themselves struggling to perform the music they love in the face of overwhelming odds. Won't Anybody Listen is a documentary concerning NC-17's long, painful struggle to be heard; it is the first feature from director Dov Kelemer, who first met the band while doing a public access television show in high school, and spent seven years capturing NC-17's story on film. The film received enthusiastic reviews following its premiere at the 2001 Hollywood Film Festival.
~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide