“Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line,” a feature-length documentary about Australian rock band Midnight Oil, has been chosen as the title of the opening gala of the Sydney Film Festival.
It will have its world premiere at the State Theater on June 5, kicking off the festival which runs until June 16.
The film is written and directed by Paul Clarke and produced by Carolina Sorensen. It was produced by Mikael Borglund, Paul Clarke and Martin Fabinyi.
It is a feature-length documentary from Blink TV and Beyond Entertainment with production primarily funded by Screen Australia and Australian Broadcasting Corporation in association with Screen NSW. It was financed with support from Sony Music Entertainment and Sony Music Publishing. Australian theatrical distribution is handled by Roadshow Films.
The group, known to fans as “The Oils,” was active for 45 years and was both successful and contrarian, on and off screen. They are known for anthems such as “US Forces”, “Beds Are Burning”, “Blue Sky Mine” and “Redneck Wonderland”. The group is also known for its Exxon protest concert and for its “Sorry” costume at the Sydney Olympics.
“This documentary not only chronicles the tremendous journey of one of Australia’s most influential bands, but also captures the spirit of an era that reshaped our cultural and political landscapes,” said Nashen Moodley, director of the Sydney Film Festival.
“’Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line’ is a film for our times. Observers of Australian politics and culture and unafraid to speak out against environmental and racial issues, ‘The Oils’ have maintained their relevance for over 40 years by writing and performing music with global resonance. With timeless anthems, we can’t wait for audiences to witness the power and passion behind the legend that is Midnight Oil,” said Borglund.
“When Australia was crumbling under the weight of its own myths, they told us the truth. Their songs highlight the fractures in our culture, they rage against the strange and dangerous times we have lived through, and they offer hope. After following them [as filmmakers] for seven years we have been thanking ‘The Oils’ and we believe we have an important film to share,” Clarke said.
The full program for the 71st Sydney Film Festival will be announced on May 8.