This was not at all what I was expecting, but it resonated with me on a deep level. 'Strip down, rise up' is not a conventional documentary about pole dancing, and it is not even about individual stories, but rather, about femininity and finding ourselves for the first time, or finding ourselves again despite what the world continuously tries to throw at us. This aspect of aerial arts like pole dancing is not often represented or thought about, and it was a good surprise to see it here. Come to think of it, one of the main reasons I do pole and aerial hoop is the reason they are showcasing here, so kudos to Sheila, Amy, and all of the girls that made this documentary happen!