Seven years ago, documentary maker Natalie van den Dungen began filming the characters that revolved around Melbourne venue The Tote – there are cameos from The Drones, The Meanies, Magic Dirt, Spiderbait, Dave Graney, The Nation Blue and stacks more – but had no idea how dramatically the narrative of her film would change when this rock’n’roll institution was forced to close last January, having played host to bands since 1980.
Melbourne’s not alone in having venues snuffed out, of course: almost two years ago the Hopetoun in Sydney’s Surry Hills went down with a whimper when the director couldn’t meet newly tightened council requirements, followed six months later by Qikz in Marrickville, and now ‘boutique venue’ Tone, once again in Surry Hills.
Now reopened, The Tote is a success story, having seen liquor licensing laws relax again following a rally in which thousands of Melburnians protested in its honour.
Screening at Cinema Nova for a limited run.