Review of The Sapphires (2012) by Pauline D — 13 Aug 2013

The Sapphires is a crowd-pleasing, underdog musical drama that unfolds in 1968 in the rural Australian Outback about a trio of Aboriginal sisters and their lighter-skinned cousin -- it's important -- who have musical talent to spare but are unfortunately denied a chance to shine because of their race.

Racial tensions ran high in this era in Australia and some of the results were appalling and shocking as Aborigines were segregated to remote areas while those who could pass as white where stripped from their family's arms and forced to re-assimilate into a more "acceptable society" (see the excellent 2002 Kenneth Branagh movie Rabbit-Proof Fence to learn more on the subject).

After being denied a victory at a Podunk talent competition -- guess why!? -- a talent scout (Chris O'Dowd - Bridesmaids) approaches the sisters in hopes of getting them their first gig. As the girls -- Gail, Julia and Cynthia -- venture to the city for an audition they approach their cousin Kay in hopes that she would wish to sing with them again .

.. although all of her white friends have no idea of her true identity and she fears what will become of her "new" adopted life. There is palpable tension between some of the cousins as the bossy Gail (Deborah Mailman - Rabbit-Proof Fence) resents everything Kay (newcomer Shari Sebbens) has been forced to become.

As the girls stand no chance of hitting-it-big Down-Under even though everyone recognizes their unbelievable talent, their new "manager" (O'Dowd again) signs them up to perform for American troops in the escalating conflict zone of Vietnam.

The girls travel to Vietnam where some experience first love, some a new sense of freedom, some a respect they had never won before and all are exposed to danger, death and disaster. While I highly enjoyed the film -- which is inspired by true events -- and will not deny its crowd-pleasing power, my enthusiasm for it has waned as time has passed since seeing it.

There are some elements to the film that feel both contrived and manipulated which I wish had not been included as they weaken the story and detract from the true-ish parts of the story. The musical numbers -- there are plenty of them -- are all good and the unknown actresses are all fine.

The purpose of the film is to entertain ... and it does. It makes you smile as you watch the girls shine like beautiful Sapphires.