“Persecution Blues: The Battle for the Tote not only lovingly documents a piece of Melbourne nearly lost; it morphs into a rousing illustration of how ordinary people can fight unjust, ill-founded laws and win.”- ARTS HUB
★★★★ “Raw, and at times emotional…Rockin’. ” - EMPIRE
“Impassioned and revealing, this ends up a stirring affirmation of live music and community spirit.” - FILM INK
Punk, passion, politics and public protest collide, in this documentary depicting the fight to save rock and roll in Melbourne.
In 2010, the iconic Tote Hotel - last bastion of Melbourne’s vibrant music counterculture - was forced to close by unfair laws. Filmed over 7 years, “Persecution Blues” depicts the struggle of more than 20,000 fans - and the bands who inspire them - to preserve their history and protect their future, and puts the audience on the front line of an epic-scale culture war.
Produced in association with: ABC TV/Triple JTV, Screen Australia and Madman
Watch the trailer