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While it's plenty predictable and sentimental, The Sapphires also has an irresistible feel-good vibe, winning music and charming performances to spare. Read critic reviews
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Movie Info
A would-be music promoter (Chris O'Dowd) sees something special in a girl group of four Australian singers and takes them to Vietnam to perform for American troops.
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Rating: PG-13 (Sexuality|A Scene of War Violence|Smoking|Some Language|Thematic Elements)
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Genre: Musical, Comedy, Biography, Drama
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Original Language: English
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Director: Wayne Blair
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Producer: Rosemary Blight, Kylie de Fresne
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Writer: Keith Thompson, Tony Briggs
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Release Date (Theaters): limited
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Release Date (Streaming):
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Box Office (Gross USA): $2.4M
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Runtime:
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Distributor: Weinstein Co.
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Production Co: Goalpost Pictures
Cast & Crew
News & Interviews for The Sapphires
Critic Reviews for The Sapphires
Audience Reviews for The Sapphires
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In 1968, sisters Cynthia(Miranda Tapsell), Gail(Deborah Mailman) and Julie(Jessica Mauboy) fail at a talent competition in Australia not due to their talent, but because of their being Aboriginal. However, that does not stop Dave Lovelace(Chris O'Dowd), the MC, from seeing their potential, even through the haze of his hangover. He even agrees to manage and coach them for a talent audition to entertain the troops in Vietnam, even after the sisters' parents' warnings about strange men and land wars in Asia. While in Melbourne for the audition, they look up Kay(Shari Sebbens), a cousin, who is wondering if hell is really endless Tupperware parties. As annoying as Chris O'Dowd is, "The Sapphires" is still an entertaining movie, fueled by some great period music. As inspired as it is by a true story about a group of women finding their voices and places in the world, it tries to handle two difficult subjects, the awful treatment of the Aboriginal peoples of Australia and the Vietnam War, with some success but not with exactly the depth required. And maybe it is a case of too much deja vu with the later, but the movie does much better with its first half in Australia.
walter m Super Reviewer -
Even those who are not easily moved by a fairly conventional and predictable movie like this one will have plenty to enjoy in such a poignant feel-good story full of great performances and beautiful singing voices about a group of Aboriginal women and their musical talent.
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I don't think I'll have much to say about this movie. This is a very entertaining, if fairly predictable, movie that handles its subject matter with kid gloves. It's an understandable approach as I think the movie was mostly meant to leave you with a smile on your face, it did, rather than really explore any complex issues about racism and the civil rights struggle. So yea, the movie underscores The Sapphires' "rise" with the racism they still face in their own country, the country that their descendants should rightfully own, and all around the world. The movie certainly dealt with very serious issues in a manner that doesn't really do justice to the racism that the aborigines really felt. But, again, that wasn't the intention of the film so it's more than understandable. A big problem with the movie is that the story is certainly lacking. Each character has her own little "subplot" per se, but I mean in the grand scheme of things. The movie pretty much looks at the group performing in various places and that's about it. Of course, it also looks at the struggles of rising through the ranks, but there's not really much of a thread holding this movie together. Individual subplots are good and all, but you also need a 'big picture'-type aspect to the story. I thought that was a problem. Because while the cast is great, the musical numbers are very entertaining and soulful, and the film has a feel-good vibe, I never really felt I was watching a movie with an actual story as much of a collection of the girls performing in different places during a difficult time for their race. Again, that's probably, really, the biggest problem with the film. But other than that, I really enjoyed this film. You might think that the lack of a decent story might be a big detriment to the film, and in a way it is, but this film certainly makes up for it with its music, its cast and it's soulful and energetic pace. And, as I said, it is a movie that certainly leave you with a smile on your face. At least, I had a smile on my face. A really entertaining movie here, it could've been much better but those flaws don't keep the movie from being a lot of fun to watch.
jesse o Super Reviewer
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Infectious "bio" about real life aboriginal girl band, popular with the soldiers in Vietnam while the U.S. was embroiled in that conflict there during the late 1960's. While it's nice to see an Aussie film that stretches the Aboriginal cliches, this is a generic treatment safe for the Lifetime cable network. "If we sing a song will that cure all our troubles?" The answer in this film is "yes!"
kevin w Super Reviewer
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