Plot

Through music, photos, archival footage and commentary, we examine how Australian punk ideology, music, social issues, community, violence, drugs, police harassment and a ferociously DIY ethos transformed Australian lives.

Age of Rage takes us into the Australian punk scene. It uncovers how punk ideology, music, social issues, sense of community, violence and drugs transformed these Australian lives. Buried in a misunderstood subculture are people with a passion for human rights and social justice - agents of change. Age of Rage - The Australian Punk Revolution is a feature length documentary about punk, passion, rage and rebellion.

When the first wave of punk broke on Australian shores in the mid-1970s, it was met with hatred by the mainstream and a fierce embrace from those it spoke to. The raw grit of the unruly punk scene was a way for alienated Australian kids to rally against a society in which they felt they didn't fit. To many of them, punk was a profound, lived, visceral critique of late 20th century capitalism.

Through music, photos, archival footage and first-person testimonials, Age of Rage takes us on a tour into the spirited world of Australian punks. It gives us an up-close, in-your-face look at the music, style, art and behaviour these punks used to protest against mainstream Australia.

With no-holds-barred, Age of Rage delves into the darker and lighter sides of the Australian punk experience: the harsh realities regarding housing and communal living, the censorship-by-seizure by police, the drugs, the incidence of violence, and the unfortunate deaths and grief. The first-person testimonials illuminate the values that emerged from the 'chaos' and, for many punks these would be held lifelong. Still full of rage and defiance, these Australian punks and their personal revolutions have evolved. While some still stand at the edges of society; others have re-engaged, bringing their punk values with them.

The Age of Rage shines a light on the lives of people who have been overlooked by mainstream society. While their paths aren't conventional, they are by no means futile or lacking in worthwhile contributions.