The Sapphires
Weinstein Company, The | Release Date: March 22, 2013
7.5
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Ratings
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21
Mixed:
4
Negative:
1
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
8
BrianMcCriticAug 7, 2013
This is a real good comedy/drama that works on both fronts it has real strong comedic spots, but it does a real good job of recognizing that challenges the young ladies have to go through along with all the tragedy that comes with the Vietnam war. A-
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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10
film_bugAug 18, 2013
A feel-good, let-loose and sing-a-long type of film. The wonderful cast made the whole movie come together much better than anyone would have thought! It was insightful, touching and heart-warming. One of my favourite performances by O'Dowd;A feel-good, let-loose and sing-a-long type of film. The wonderful cast made the whole movie come together much better than anyone would have thought! It was insightful, touching and heart-warming. One of my favourite performances by O'Dowd; and Mauboy steals the show with her beautiful, beautiful voice.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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7
GreatMartinApr 15, 2013
Once or twice a year a ‘small’ picture sneaks into the local cinema and stays for weeks and weeks usually because of word of mouth. Most of the time they are an English movie but “The Sapphires” is an exception being from Australia. TheOnce or twice a year a ‘small’ picture sneaks into the local cinema and stays for weeks and weeks usually because of word of mouth. Most of the time they are an English movie but “The Sapphires” is an exception being from Australia. The movie is based on the true story of four Aboriginal women who lived in the Outback where, until the 1970s, children were stolen from their families and adopted by ‘white’ families or put into institutions. This is not that story though the theme is mentioned now and then just as the similarities and differences in the treatment of Black people in Australia and how Black people were treated in the United States.

This is the story of the girls who are ‘discovered’ by an alcoholic talent scout, Dave Lovelace (Chris O’Dowd) whose claim to fame is that he once was a director of talent on a cruise ship. He hears their potential and when one of the girls talks about auditions to entertain troops in Vietnam he makes himself their manager. Dave talks them out of the country and western songs they have been singing and makes them over into a typical Motown girl group of the 1960s, using the songs, outfits and moves, oh, say like the Supremes. There is some playing with the facts during the movie such as the character Dave never existed but it looks like Australian writers (Keith Thompson and Tony Briggs, son of one of the women) and director Wayne Blaine have seen enough Hollywood movies and brought their lessons to this film. The girls each have their boyfriend angst and there is the infighting, not to forget to show a bomb or two going off in the Vietnam scenes, and a breakup here and there but all ends well, just like a Hollywood film would.

The girls: Gail (Deborah Mailman) is referred to as the ‘Mama bear’, Julie (Jessica Mauboy) plays the lead singer, Cynthia (Miranda Tapsell) who is content being a backup singer and Kay (Shari Sebbens) the sister’s light skinned sibling who had been one of those children kidnapped from her family and brought up as a white city girl and, of course, will fall in love with the darkest skin soldier. They put over the songs and they handle deeper moments making them believable. Chris O’Dowd has enough charm to make the audience not realize they are wearing their hearts on their sleeves. The songs from “Heard It On The Grapevine” to “Sugar Pie Honey Bunch” bring the Motown sound and, through subjects from racism in the USA to the situation with Aboriginals and the war in Vietnam though lightly dismissed, brings the 1960s back.

Be sure to stay for the ending credits to see what these women did with the rest of their lives which is very impressive.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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7
TVJerryMay 8, 2013
As late as the 60s, Australian Aboriginals were scorned by many of the white inhabitants. This based-on-fact film is about 4 young women who form the eponymous group (along with manager Chris O'Dowd) and go to Vietnam to entertain the troops.As late as the 60s, Australian Aboriginals were scorned by many of the white inhabitants. This based-on-fact film is about 4 young women who form the eponymous group (along with manager Chris O'Dowd) and go to Vietnam to entertain the troops. It's a mostly feel-good story about their mostly fun adventure, but the toll of racial discrimination always hovers. The script is sometimes clunky, but the performances are plucky. I'm a big fan of 60's soul and this soundtrack is packed with classics. It's slight-but-sweet.… Expand
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5
TyranianApr 13, 2019
Some good songs but this film is dumbly written, not brilliantly acted and clichéd.
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10
amboyMay 31, 2013
This is the definition of a crowd pleaser. A success story with interesting and likable people, good music, fine performances largely by unknowns, and sure handed, unobtrusive direction. I'm not big on girl group singers or feel goodThis is the definition of a crowd pleaser. A success story with interesting and likable people, good music, fine performances largely by unknowns, and sure handed, unobtrusive direction. I'm not big on girl group singers or feel good movies, which usually depress me. I loved this one.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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7
Mike_KJul 3, 2013
Good story. Hard to believe how recent it was that Australian aboriginals were treated this way. Good music. Lead roles are well played. Very enjoyable.
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8
DawdlingPoetNov 22, 2021
This is a musical comedy drama film, which is part biographical and it covers themes including Aboriginal Australians upbringing, equality, auditioning/auditions, the military and of course fame.

I was impressed with the singing which isThis is a musical comedy drama film, which is part biographical and it covers themes including Aboriginal Australians upbringing, equality, auditioning/auditions, the military and of course fame.

I was impressed with the singing which is heavily showcased from early on in the film - it is quite jolly and easy to hum along with. Early on, its mostly country music, although it evolves in to soul based music, which is a genre I'm particularly keen on, so I enjoyed that. The tone of the film is relatively lighthearted at first, although its also quite early on that the viewers are aware of how dimly the Aboriginal people people were regarded at the time. I quite enjoyed it as the plot interested me. I thought the character Dave, who becomes the groups manager, was particularly interesting - he is rather quirky and a little eccentric perhaps but his love of music and his belief in the girls is quite believable and fun, if that makes any sense(?). Ok so I can't claim it is an entirely original plot line I suppose, in as much as there are some cheesy aspects within the plot but I very much enjoyed it regardless. Its one of those stories that may make you daydream about what if it happened to you - what are the chances of the same set of circumstances happening to yourself or someone you know?.

I felt this film was well cast, with the group consisting of sisters Cynthia, played by Miranda Tapsell, Gail, played by Deborah Mailman, Julie, played by Jessica Mauboy and Kay, played by Shari Sebbens. They all seem quite assertive and sometimes bolshie, thankfully able to stand up for themselves but sadly used to the discrimination they regularly encounter due to their origins. Their performances are quite animated, with them all seeming pretty passionate about music and trying to make a name for themselves. Meanwhile, Chris O'Dowd (well known for playing Roy in sitcom The IT Crowd) plays Dave. I really liked his character, although I couldn't help but wonder how many Irish guys (his Irish accent is very present) there would be likely to be in such a remote/rural area of Australia at the time? I could be wrong about that though, I don't really know a great deal about the topic I suppose. I suppose it can be said that the fact Dave didn't entirely (ethnicity wise) fit in with the other locals, made him and the girls get on better perhaps, with them all being misfits of a sort.

I found it to be quite a watchable film - it definitely helps if your a fan of soul, R&B or country style music, due to the music/singing featured of course. There are sober elements of the plot, which highlight the sad way people such as the sisters were treated and it also gives a (if but brief and not explicit, thankfully) glimpse of the devastation of war - more specifically, the Vietnam war. Regardless, the dialogue, overall, is fairly jovial - the girls are clearly depicted as sisters who both love and hate each other in seemingly equal measure at times.

Content wise and this film contains little likely to overly offend or upset people, other than the themes/references to war and racial inequality. However, there is no explicit language present, although there are some milder, scatalogical type terms used, a few moderate racial slurs and various instances of name calling between the sisters and others. Its all fairly tame. There are scenes depicting war, as mentioned, so there is an element of violence depicted, although nothing especially disturbing - there's little in the way of extreme bloody violence 'in the field' but injured soldiers recouping and the like are shown. There are some sex references, most quite mild and one or two scenes which could possibly frighten young viewers but most people should be ok with it. Its been given a PG rating to reflect this.

It definitely becomes more sobre and relatively moving towards the end but this, I thought, was done in quite a good way - it isn't unnecessarily sensationalist. It definitely shifts from light hearted and optimistic to thoughtful and sobre but the emotional scenes are pretty short lived and topics aren't overly dwelled on, I reckon, so don't let that put you off.

Yes I'd recommend this, as I enjoyed the story, I thought the cast did well and I found it a fun and easy watch, while highlighting some important moral points.… Expand
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