Movie Review: Sapphires

“Sapphires” is a great Australian movie set in 1960s Australia and Vietnam. Starring veteran of the Australian film and television industry and AFI winner Deborah Mailman (Mabo, Offspring, Secret Life of Us, Play School) and JessicaMauboy, a young lady who is making a name for herself as an actress as much as she is as a singer/performer (Australian Idol runner up 2006, Bran Nue Day and 4 albums to date).

The movie is inspired by the true story of 4 indigenous Australian Women (Mauboy, Mailman and newcomers Miranda Tapsell and Shari Sebbens) who pursued their dream of a singing career and performed for the troops in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. They were branded as Soul Sisters and considered by some as Australia’s answer to the Supremes. 

The film deals with the issues of racism, stolen generation, war and relationships in a way that has you laughing one minute and sombre the next. 

These issues aren’t dealt with flippantly; they will make you think carefully about how this happened and whether it still rings true in today’s society.

This movie is a great Australian Independent production filmed in Albury NSW and on location in Vietnam. The soundtrack reflects the generation that it is set and tells the story of that generation and how music played such a major role in expressing the struggles and emotions that were being experienced in a world focused on the Vietnam War and the equal rights movements in America.  Jessica Mauboy’s voice once again shines through as a powerful vocal presence, handling with ease the power, presence and vocal range of this genre of music.