Tabbed as Australia's own Dreamgirls, The Sapphires is a unique tale of joy, sorrow and discovery as four Aboriginal sisters from a remote mission venture outside of their comfort zone and uncover the real beauty of life.
Filled with addictive soul and young, vibrant characters, Wayne Blair's film is a breath of fresh air for those longing for something a little classy. Deborah Mailman, Jessica Mauboy, Shari Sebbens, and Miranda Tapsell give brilliant performances as our leading ladies, each embracing a different personality as they love and hate like sisters, each longing for a sense of self-discovery.
Quick paced and full of life, the story is rich in Australian history as four unexpected girls travel to Vietnam to entertain the troops. But things aren't all smiles as jealousy and the past work to break the women apart. Add in a manager who struggles to stay sober and an intense air raid and it becomes clear that this isn't just a story about music.
On that same note, I was pleasantly surprised with the limited amount of time that was spent on race. Taking place in 1968, there were countless opportunities to play the race card and allow the story to succumb to the girl's Aboriginal heritage. While it was a main point of conversation from time to time, it was never dwelled upon. Blair worked to make sure that the story was about their journey, their success. The film flows better as a result, capturing the raw emotion as our singing quartet venture into the world unknown.
By the end, you aren't fully ready to let these four women go. Sure, their journey is over, but somehow you feel a personal connection to each. I was a bit disappointed with the follow-up slides that explained what each had done after their tour in Vietnam, but the film can't be held accountable for that. As it sits, The Sapphires is a complete, well rounded film that seamlessly meshes genre lines, refusing to be fit within boundaries and paving way for a truly entertaining experience.
