The Boys Next Door. Photo by Michel Lawrence.

Mutiny in Heaven: The Birthday Party, the feature documentary chronicling the thrilling, debauched and frequently hilarious adventures of the legendary Melbourne post-punk band will release into select Australian cinemas this October and November.  The film is directed by Ian White and features new interviews with Nick Cave and bandmates Mick Harvey, Rowland S Howard and Phill Calvert, along with remarkable never seen before footage.

In February 1980, they were The Boys Next Door on the brink of stardom. Changing their name to The Birthday Party mid-flight to London and writing ever scarier, sexier, angrier music that turned their gigs into antagonistic art ordeals. Offstage, things were even more chaotic. Nick Cave, Rowland S. Howard, Mick Harvey, Tracy Pew and Phill Calvert froze and starved in increasingly squalid squats, some descending into addiction, psychosis, imprisonment and, worst of all, creative differences. Yet by their final gig in 1983, howling like fallen angels under the chandelier at St Kilda’s Crystal Ballroom, The Birthday Party had achieved rock immortality.

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With a soundtrack curated by Harvey, this remarkable and picaresque documentary is filled with rare and unseen photos, artwork, letters and diaries, unreleased tracks and studio footage. But its greatest delight are the band members’ own sardonic recollections of their youthful hopes and dreams. A thrilling chronicle of the band’s struggles and successes, and the momentous three years that changed rock music and reverberate still, Mutiny in Heaven is a must-see for post-punk fans and anyone seeking to join the dots of Nick Cave’s remarkable and ongoing 40+ year career journey.

Select screenings will be accompanied by not to be missed Q&As with band members Mick Harvey and Phill Calvert and director Ian White.

The Australian release follows the films World Premiere at the recent Melbourne International Film festival and a US release commencing this week in more than 50 cities.

Here’s where you can see it:

VICTORIA

Thursday, 26 October
Cinema Nova, The Lido, The Classic, Thornbury Picturehouse, The Pivotonian

QUEENSLAND

Thursday, 26 October
The Star Cinema

NEW SOUTH WALES

Byron Bay International Film Festival

Thursday, 2 November
Cremorne Orpheum, Randwick Ritz, Our Golden Age

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Friday, 10 November
LUNA LEEDERVILLE,  LUNA on S/X Fremantle

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Adelaide Film Festival

Other Cities to be announced soon. Full details can be found here.