Midnight Oil 1984

A vivid portrait of the era and the songs that embodied it.

In 1984, Midnight Oil released their iconic record Red Sails in the Sunset. They embarked on a relentless tour around the nation performing raw and electrifying music that reignited the imagination of young Australians. That same year, their lead singer Peter Garrett committed to run for a Senate seat for the Nuclear Disarmament Party. With the mounting pressure of balancing the demands of music and politics this is the year that would make, but nearly break, Australia's most important rock and roll band.

Thirty years in the making and featuring never seen before seen footage of the band on and off the stage, MIDNIGHT OIL 1984 is the untold story of the year Australia's most iconic rock band inspired the nation to believe in the power of music to change the world.

1hr 29mins/ Released 2018 Madman/ Dir: Ray Argall

‘flows like a virtuoso jazz performance - exact and methodical while simultaneously thrumming with an energy that sees full release in the film's stunning performance sequences’ Metro Magazine

‘a riveting documentary time capsule’ Herald Sun

‘captures a fascinating moment in history alongside a band that was on top of the world – and trying to save it’ The Guardian

‘thoroughly compelling’ Film Critics Circle of Australia

‘It delivers’ News.com.au

‘This documentary does an incredible job at giving us an inside look into one of the most fascinating and well-known Aussie bands in history’. Gizmodo

‘a wonderfully nostalgic study of one of the greatest Aussie bands ever. One of the sweatiest, too’ The Adelaide Review

‘paints a portrait of an impassioned country reacting to a fiery voice in uncertain times’ Screen Hub

‘captures the power and the passion of Australia’s greatest political rock band in their heyday… a bracing reminder of the …greatness of a band the likes of which we’re unlikely to see again’  Time Out

‘feels like everything an Oils gig used to be’ Triple M