Madman and NicNat Films are proud to announce the documentary, PERSECUTION BLUES: THE BATTLE FOR THE TOTE will receive its world premiere this Thursday, 28th July at the Melbourne International Film Festival, and will be followed soon after by a theatrical release on 25th August at Cinema Nova.
Punk, passion, politics and public protest collide in PERSECUTION BLUES: THE BATTLE FOR THE TOTE, an exploration of the rich musical history of Melbourne and the overwhelming public outcry ignited by news of the imminent closure of one of its most renowned and beloved rock and roll venues.
In 2010, the iconic Tote Hotel – last bastion of Melbourne’s vibrant music counterculture – was forced to close due to rigorous liquor licensing laws. Filmed over 7 years, PERSECUTION BLUES: THE BATTLE FOR THE TOTE puts the audience on the front line of an epic-scale culture war, depicting the plight of more than 20,000 punters – along with the bands who inspire them – as they strive to preserve their history and protect the future of live music.
Directed by music video and documentary filmmaker Natalie van den Dungen and produced by television and documentary maker Nicole Rogers, PERSECUTION BLUES: THE BATTLE FOR THE TOTE is a 57-minute documentary, produced in association with The Australian Broadcasting Association and financed with the assistance of Screen Australia and Madman Entertainment.
PERSECUTION BLUES: THE BATTLE FOR THE TOTE is planned for broadcast on ABC Television in the near future, and will be released on DVD shortly after.
Trailer and additional information available at: www.persecutionblues.com