I’m always tentative when walking into the screening of an Australian film; for every Face to Face (2011) there’s a You and Your Stupid Mate (2005), which means that I’m always pleasantly surprised when the film is actually good, and when it’s really good, I tell everyone to go and see it.
The Sapphires is based on the Helpmann Award winning stage play of the same name written by screenwriter Tony Briggs, which is somewhat based on the true story of two indigenous Australian sisters and their two cousins. Forming a singing troupe and heading off to Vietnam to entertain soldiers during the Vietnam War, the girls seek fame and success that they so desperately crave. In the film, however, The Sapphires are three sisters and their half white cousin Kay, who is carted off to a white school to have her Indigenousness taught out of her. You can see where this is going…
Directed by Wayne Blair, The Sapphires has a fantastic soundtrack including Creedence Clearwater Revival, Otis Redding and Sam & Dave, a biting social message about race set to the backdrop of the 60s when communists were public enemy number one, Martin Luther King’s death affected the entire world and soul music was uniting people of all colours and creeds.
With a strong beginning, middle and end this film is like a perfectly crafted Hollywood film, with well defined characters, a clear message, beautiful cinematography from Warwick Thornton, and enough drama to make you cry without it being too cheesy, but it’s an Australian film.
Chris O’Dowd delivers yet another pitch perfect performance as the lovable, down and out loser who always gets the punch line, and Deborah Mailman is all heart as the mouthy mumma-bear. I don’t want to say too much because sometimes too much hype can ruin a film and I found it so charming. The Sapphires is the perfect choice for MIFF opening night film.
The Sapphires is in cinemas from 9 August through Hopscotch Films. It also is the opening night film at the 2012 Melbourne International Film Festival.
