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The Boat That Rocked at The Revival House PerthIn 1966, when the BBC plays only two hours of rock and roll per week, pirate radio station Radio Rock broadcasts 24 hours a day from a ship anchored in the North Sea, beaming pop music to 25 million British listeners. Aboard this floating palace of rebellion is an eclectic crew: The Count (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a larger-than-life American DJ; Quentin (Bill Nighy), the ship's elegant owner; perpetual rivals Simple Simon (Chris O'Dowd) and Gavin (Rhys Ifans) competing for listeners' affection; and the newest arrival, young Carl (Tom Sturridge), sent by his godfather Quentin to find direction in life. While the DJs spin records, chase women, and navigate their interpersonal dramas, British government minister Sir Alistair Dormandy (Kenneth Branagh) plots to shut them down, determined to silence the station that's corrupting Britain's youth. As legislative pressure mounts and personal crises unfold, the crew must fight for their right to rock—even as their ship faces its greatest test.
Writer-director Richard Curtis crafts an affectionate valentine to pirate radio and the music that changed Britain in this 2009 ensemble comedy. The film's greatest pleasure is watching its stellar cast interact—Hoffman's booming charisma, Nighy's droll sophistication, and Nick Frost's lovelorn optimism create a lived-in community of misfits bound by their love of music. Curtis packs the soundtrack with an extraordinary selection of '60s classics from The Who, The Kinks, Smokey Robinson, and dozens more, making the film as much a celebration of the era's revolutionary music as the characters who broadcast it. The North Sea setting gives the film a unique atmosphere—isolated yet connected to millions—while the climactic sequence delivers genuine stakes. It's a love letter to radio, rebellion, and the transformative power of rock and roll.
Original format and audio experience of this film faithfully reproduced by The Revival House. Presented in 35mm film unless noted otherwise.
When: Sunday, April 26th at 1:00PM
Where: The Revival House at the Como Theatre
Rating: M (Coarse language, sexual references and nudity)
Turn it up to eleven—Curtis's joyous tribute to pirate radio and the music that changed a generation sets sail in 35mm film.
Presented by: The Revival House Perth
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Event Venue
16 Preston Street Como, 6152, 16 Preston St, Como WA 6152, Australia, Perth
Tickets
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