The Sapphires
A Special Presentation at the 2012 Toronto
International Film Festival®, The Sapphires
is a wildly entertaining musical comedy in
the tradition of Strictly Ballroom and The
Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
Based on the smash 2004 Australian play by
Tony Briggs (who co-wrote the screenplay),
The Sapphires was inspired by the true story
of Briggs’ mother and aunt, who sang in an
all-Aboriginal female soul quartet that entertained
American troops during the Vietnam
War.
Set in 1968, the story begins with sisters
Gail (Deborah Mailman, Bran Nue Dae, the
Film Circuit hit Rabbit Proof Fence), Diana
(Jessica Mauboy, Bran Nue Dae), and Cynthia
(newcomer Miranda Tapsell) entering a local
talent competition in an outback pub, where
their moving rendition of a Merle Haggard
classic outclasses the tone-deaf competition
but fails to win over the racist judges.
One man is impressed, however: boozy
Irish emcee Dave Lovelace (Chris O’Dowd,
Bridesmaids), a would-be music promoter
with an ear for raw talent. He convinces the
girls to swap their sleepy country standards
for soul music, promising to turn them into
stars. Recruiting their long-estranged cousin
Kay (Shari Sebbens) as a fourth member, the
girls soon sing their way from the far-flung
Australian outback to Southeast Asia and a
tour of war-torn Vietnam.
Filled with show-stopping renditions of
classic Motown hits that showcase the phenomenal
voice of Mauboy (an Australian Idol alumnus), The Sapphires deftly mixes sparkling
humour with serious drama, a delicate
balance maintained not least by O’Dowd’s
charisma and lackadaisical charm. Featuring
stunning period recreations and gorgeous
cinematography by Warwick Thornton, The
Sapphires is a rousing film that hits all the
right notes.
CRITICAL NOTES
"First-time filmmaker Wayne Blair has crafted
an exuberant celebration of Aboriginality that
fizzes with humor and heart; its soulfulness
goes beyond the embrace of a jukebox full of
Motown, Stax and Atlantic Records hits."
—Megan Lehmann,
The Hollywood Reporter
FILM INFORMATION
Director: Wayne Blair
Cast: Chris O'Dowd, Deborah Mailman, Miranda Tapsell, Jessica Mauboy, Shari Sebbens
Year: 2012
Runtime: 103 minutes
Country: Australia
Language: English
Distributor: Entertainment One
Ratings:
ON NR /
BC NR /
AB NR /
SK NR /
MB NR /
QC NR /
Maritmes NR
SCREENING DATES
| Date
|
Circuit Centre
|
Location
|
|
May 23, 2013
|
Film Night International Smiths Falls
Rideau Canal Museum
|
Smiths Falls, ON
|
|
May 26, 2013
|
On Screen At The Circle
The Circle Theatre
|
Alliston, ON
|
|
May 27, 2013
|
Reel Monday
Grandin Theatre
|
St. Albert, AB
|
|
June 03, 2013
|
Reel Alternatives
Capitol Theatre
|
Huntsville, ON
|
|
June 05, 2013
|
The Screen One Film Series
Uptown Theatre
|
Barrie, ON
|
|
June 11, 2013
|
North of Seven Film Festival
Bancroft Village Playhouse
|
Bancroft, ON
|
|
June 19, 2013
|
Georgina Community Film Circuit
Stephen Leacock Theatre
|
Georgina, ON
|
|
June 24, 2013
|
Richmond Hill’s “The Reel Thing”
Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts
|
Richmond Hill, ON
|
|
June 24, 2013
|
Woodstock Art Gallery
Woodstock Art Gallery
|
Woodstock, ON
|
|
July 17, 2013
|
Georgina Community Film Circuit
Stephen Leacock Theatre
|
Georgina, ON
|
|
August 14, 2013
|
Starlight Cinema
Lebovic Centre for the Arts and Entertainment
|
Stouffville, ON
|
|
September 12, 2013
|
Those Other Movies
Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion
|
Haliburton, ON
|
|
November 19, 2013
|
Markham at the Movies
Markham Museum
|
Markham, ON
|
|
|
|