Films
THE BIRTHDAY PARTY FILM
MUTINY IN HEAVEN
THE BIRTHDAY PARTY
SYDNEY PREMIERE
In association with
Label Distribution and Groovescooter
7.00PM, THURS NOV 2nd, 2023
HAYDEN ORPHEUM, Cremorne
Plus Very Special Guests on the night:
Director Ian White, Birthday Party members Mick Harvey & Phill Calvert and author Mark Mordue
▣ BUY ORPHEUM TICKETS
6.00PM, FRIDAY NOV 3rd, 2023
GOLDEN AGE CINEMA, Surry Hills
Special Guests: Dir. Ian White, Birthday Party members
Mick Harvey & Phill Calvert and author Mark Mordue
▣ BUY GOLDEN AGE TICKETS
Also screens:
• 4.00PM SATURDAY Nov 4th, 2023
• 3:45PM SUNDAY Nov 5th, 2023
• 5:40PM SUNDAY Nov 12th, 2023
GOLDEN AGE CINEMA, Surry Hills
Watch the trailer below
Dir: Ian White
Prod: Bill Lord, Greg Blakey, Ian White, Lindsay Gravina, Michael Murphy, Mick Harvey, Stuart Souter, Wim Wenders
Cast: Mick Harvey, Nick Cave, Phill Calvert, Rowland S. Howard, Tracy Pew
Following its World Premiere at MIFF in Melbourne recently, MUTINY IN HEAVEN now gets its Sydney Premiere in November. Directed by Ian White (Before the Fall, Junkie Monastery), this visceral documentary is the story of pioneering Australian band, The Birthday Party. Led by a young and unruly Nick Cave, the band’s threatening live shows and shock-inducing songs were propelled by the internal-organ-shifting bass of Tracy Pew and the utterly unique guitar sounds of songwriter/guitarist Roland S. Howard and guitarist-turned-drummer Mick Harvey. The film follows their ascent, apex and inevitable collapse and is a thrilling tale of epic struggle, artistic genius and total dysfunctionality. Told in the group’s own words, Mutiny In Heaven brings the band’s story to the screen for the first time.
This twisted tale of a bunch of Melbourne misfit musicians mutating from The Boys Next Door into a band whose shows were too wild for New York audiences (where concerts were shut down minutes after starting). Hurtling towards the band’s inevitable implosion, the films deals with issues of creativity, addiction, fame, interpersonal conflict and the unique relationship between creative vision and self-destruction. Underpinned by the dark, wry humour of the individual band members, the film utilises exclusive, incredibly candid interviews, a wealth of rare and unseen archives, original animations/artwork, unreleased tracks, studio footage and multimedia content. It’s as rich as it is narratively riveting; a revealing look back at its key members’ origins, dreams, hopes and motivations.
“… An assault on the senses that, if nothing else, captures the chaotic, drug fuelled and at times violent atmosphere that surrounded the band” [Melbourne University Film Inquirer]
“Ian White’s hyperjacked documentary reminds you of a time when rock music was legitimately dangerous” [Janet Smith, STIR]
