Dead End Drive-In: Now Showing – ‘A Venue For The End Of The World’
Written by Gaz Tidey
Sunday, 12 June 2016 04:00
‘A Venue For The End Of The World’ (2016 – BRINKvision/Wienerworld)
Thank, well, something, that, just as the world appears to be getting irretrievably dumber by the day, a piece of art should come along and remind us that there are still intelligent people in the world looking to spread intelligent ideas.
For me, the latest work that made me forget for a moment the clod-headed would-be president thing on my television, the political and moral geniuses of social networking sites, was a documentary by Australian filmmaker, Aidan Prewett.
‘A Venue For The End Of The World’ is a quirky, ambitious documentary that almost thinks aloud as it tries to explore the power, and subsequent dangers of idol worship and crowd manipulation. Man, didn’t I just say I wanted to forget about those very same things? For that very reason alone Prewett’s film takes on a timeless quality.
Aided by some prime vintage footage and photography, the documentary is limited as to who it could afford to garner as a talking head (Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson, for example, features heavily, as does Rolling Stones production guru, Chip Monke, Santana’s Michael Shrieve, TV host Dick Cavett, and punk musician Ted Leo who, until watching, I had completely forgotten about reviewing in the über early days) but it aims high with its targets.
A link between the Rolling Stones and the Third Reich? Surely not?! Mick Jagger spouting evilness out of every pore when his singing is played backwards? No way! Prewett’s style is infectiously friendly, laugh-out-loud funny at times, but, ultimately, as thought-provoking as every good documentary filmmaker should be.
Thinking back to a childhood concert where he touched Bob Geldof’s hand and didn’t then wash for a week – much like the Boomtown Rat himself, I should imagine – Prewett investigates the similarities between Nazi stage techniques and modern day showmanship, of how religious cults and rock bands use the same venues to pretty much the same effect.
From the love-in at Woodstock to the violence at Altamont, via a running time littered with student riots, political rallies, and the wise words of fellow documentary makers, ‘A Venue For The End Of The World’, just released on DVD in the UK by Wienerworld, makes for fascinating viewing, with a pay-off featuring the filmmaker himself in front of a huge crowd, trembling at just how he will be received…..
“You wanna be successful? Find your tribe…..”
http://www.wienerworld.com/
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To pick up your copy of ‘A Venue For The End Of The World’ – CLICK HERE
