Going into this film I was wondering if I would be seeing a documentary on Midnight Oil or one on Peter Garrett. However watching this movie, I came to learn that I was wrong in thinking these two things are necessarily separate entities. Yes, Peter Garrett while he was the frontman for Midnight Oil did pursue politics as a member of the Nuclear Disarmament Party. Garrett’s foray into politics and his political agenda though isn’t separate from the will of Midnight Oil. It’s clear after seeing this film that if Garrett had never joined Midnight Oil that they still would’ve been the issue minded, voice of the voiceless band that they became. What Peter Garrett brought was limitless passion, energy and vision to put the group in the spotlight and achieve more than anyone thought possible.
The Midnight Oil documentary follows the group in these early years from their formation in their early 70s to their meteoric rise to fame in 1982 with 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. As the scope of Midnight Oil widens the message is clear. Midnight Oil delivers a message to the world. A message that isn’t only important to the world but resonates with Australians nationwide. Messages of the injustice against the indigenous people, messages of dangers and threats of nuclear war, messages of peace between all peoples. Having touched the hearts and minds of a generation, Garrett launches a political campaign within the NDP to affect change in his world as best as he can. Footage is dispersed between a professionally dressed Garrett speaking to school kids about the dangers of nuclear weapons to dancing his absolute hardest in a gig the very same day. The boundless energy of Peter Garrett invigorated thousands in 1984 to take a stand for what they believe in. Standing in the lights, drenched in sweat, Garrett never lets up and continues to fight for a better world.
This film is a must see for anyone who found themselves standing shoulder to shoulder with their friends and strangers screaming their lungs out in unison in a concert in the 80s. For all kids and adults who were disillusioned in 1984 and wanted to do something. For all the youth of today to see what can be done when enough voices come together. Midnight Oil was always Midnight Oil with or without Peter Garrett but with their frontman giving it his all every night on stage, it was a sight to behold.
Check out the official site here.
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