In 1978, when the push to decriminalise homosexuality has stalled, a group of activists decide they must make one final attempt to celebrate who they are. Led by former union boss Lance Gowland, they get a police permit and spread the word. On a freezing winter's night, they cloak themselves in fancy dress, join hands, and parade down Oxford Street. But they have no idea that angry police lie in wait, and the courage they find that night will finally mobilise the nation.
A great deal of discussion in pre-production regarding the visual style of Riot specifically focused on the huge nighttime scenes in Kings Cross, New South Wales. During production, the riot began at Kings Cross before seamlessly moving to mocked-up store fronts filmed at Fox Studios in Moore Park.[6]
Reception
Critical response
The film received positive reviews from critics, with particular praise for the performances of the cast, most notably those of Herriman and Box. Luke Buckmaster of the Daily Review gave it three-and-a-half stars out of five and wrote that "moments in Riot are refreshing, purely because they are oriented around voices rarely given narrative priority in mainstream entertainment."[7]