The sapphires is a 2012 australian musical comedydrama film based on the 2004 stage play of the same name, which is loosely based on a true story. The sapphires deals with themes of entrenched racism, search for identity and above all else the fight for equality although it isnt as obvious as some of the other themes. Watch the sapphires starring chris odowd in this comedy on directv. This is the second year ive taught the film the sapphires which is. A little clunky and overly reliant on stereotyping by todays standards, but still a fascinating exploration of the fears and struggles inherent in a newly mixedrace society. Four young aboriginal women from regional australia, who like singing country music, suddenly get the chance to change their tune and their lives. In addition to themes of teamwork and following your dreams, it deals with the immoral practice of whites taking lightskinned aboriginal children away from their families to be re. The film was directed by basil dearden and stars nigel patrick, earl cameron and yvonne mitchell. Based on a true story, the sapphires transports four young australian aboriginal women and their motowninspired soulsisters act from an impoverished outback.
The sapphires education resource film, tv, videogames. Sapphires, the boozy talent scout dave odowd stumbles upon a talented by callow girl group in outback australia. Cast edit nigel patrick as superintendent robert hazard. The four aboriginal singerssisters laurel robinson, lois peeler and their cousins beverley briggs and naomi mayerswho inspired the film image courtesy of.
Its musical orientation creates an engaging film which almost anyone can watch. With chris odowd, deborah mailman, jessica mauboy, shari sebbens. Cynthia miranda tapsell, gail deborah mailman, julie jessica mauboy and kay shari sebbens are four singers with lots of. Analyse how the use of film features shaped your response to one or more themes in the film.
The movie is entertaining, and the story has a lot for older children to talk about. Filling in the gaps history and stories of the past the sapphires is a wonderful mix of personal, family, aboriginal, national and international history. The sapphires is a 2012 australian musical comedydrama film based on the 2004 stage play. The sapphires film analysis assessment task by prezi user on. In australia, critics have welcomed the film as a feelgood story about indigenous people that offers relief from the harsh themes of poverty. We are introduced to the band at talent quest in a country pub a place where aboriginal patrons are not welcomed. The movie the sapphires is a 2012 australian musical comedymusical drama with a pinch of romance.
Inspired by a true story, director wayne blairs debut feature the sapphires follows four aboriginal australian girls as they are transformed into a soulful singing group by a kindhearted musician, and later travel to vietnam to entertain battleweary u. Aug 24, 2012 sapphires, the boozy talent scout dave odowd stumbles upon a talented by callow girl group in outback australia. A wouldbe music promoter chris odowd sees something special in a girl group of four australian singers and takes them to vietnam to perform for american troops. Sisters cynthia, gail and julie miranda tapsell, deborah mailman and jessica mauboy leave their family in the country after being discovered by dave lovelace chris odowd.
The film takes place in a time where many forms of prejudice, especially racial discrimination racism. Soon he has them drilled and on a plane to entertain the boys in vietnam. A feelgood film based on the true story of an aboriginal girl group battling prejudice in 1960s australia wowed. It was based on a 2004 stage play, which was also based off.
It would be great to have a sequel, but the sapphires deserve a documentary. The sapphires is about four indigenous australian women, gail deborah mailman. So every note that passes through your lips should have. The sapphires shines light on aboriginal australia bbc news. The sapphires the sapphires has been described as a feelgood movie about bad things. Wearing sequins and armed only with microphones they find. Apr 05, 20 based on a true story, the sapphires transports four young australian aboriginal women and their motowninspired soulsisters act from an impoverished outback mission to wartorn vietnam, circa 1968. The sapphires movies resource pilgrim uniting church. In an era of significant racial discrimination, they used their singing talents to entertain american soldiers in vietnam. The sapphires experience in vietnam was perhaps unique, but the wounds created by forced removal of children are still felt by many people. Adapted from tony briggs play inspired by his mothers experience as an entertainer in wartorn vietnam, the sapphires tells the story of four women from an aboriginal mission community who achieve success entertaining american troops. While it is clear that the film aims to be a people pleaser, it does suffer slightly when indirectly dabbling in themes of racism.
The sapphires is an inspirational tale set in the heady days of the late 60s about a quartet of young, talented singers from a remote aboriginal mission, discovered and guided by a. Chris odowd has become my new favorite leading man. A very conventional story of a 60s australian girl group gains extra power from its context. Sep 24, 20 our series on good films for teenagers continues with an exploration of the australian film the sapphires. The sapphires is a lightweight, feelgood crowdpleaser equipped with heavy themes that are dealt with in lightweight but appropriate ways. There is a ton of fun to be had here, and, though its impact dissipates quickly, the fingersnapping film is a soulful and sweet romp. Four young aboriginal women from regional australia, who like singing country music. Aug 09, 2012 based on a true story and adapted from the stage play, the sapphires is an over the top comedymusicaldrama thatll have you laughing, crying and celebrating the achievement of these four amazing.
Based on a true story, the sapphires is a triumphant celebration of youthful emotion, family and music i saw this movie in cannes, it was one of. The film is directed by wayne blair and written by keith thompson and tony briggs, the latter of whom wrote the play. It is about 4 indigenous women named, gail, julie, kay and cynthia and a talent scout by the name of dave lovelace who discovered them and formed the group known as the sapphires, where they traveled to vietnam in 1968 where they sang for the troops during the war. But the new film the sapphires isnt the australian version of. In this case, the aboriginal girls portrayed in the. Wayne blairs the sapphires is the best new historical film that you most likely have not seen, yet. Jun 01, 2012 based on a true story, the sapphires is a triumphant celebration of youthful emotion, family and music i saw this movie in cannes, it was one of the best movie ive ever seen during the film festival. It was based on a 2004 stage play, which was also based off the same story. Study guide for push precious push also known as precious in its film version study guide contains a biography of sapphire, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. A film study of the sapphires key themes and ideas in the movie. Sunshiny effervescence dominates wayne blairs 60sset parable of selfdetermination, the sapphires a reallife tale of.
The sapphires is a genuinely feelgood film that has grit as well as laughter, and some great music which packs enough emotional power to make the tears flow in a good way. Our heroines are a singing group of aboriginal women in. The journey through vietnam changes gail in the film the sapphires 2012 directed by wayne blair, the protagonist gail goes through certain experiences leading up to and during her journey in vietnam which cause many significant changes in her as a person. It focuses on racism in london toward immigrants from the west indies and explores the underlying insecurities and fears of ordinary people that exist towards another race. Media caption the sapphires cast and director spoke to bbc news about the project. The film was written by keith thompson and tony briggs and directed by wayne blair. The sapphires was released in 2012 and was directed by wayne blair it was based off of the true story of four aboriginal women. Film text focus the sapphires the 2012 australian film the sapphires is the true story of an allaboriginal girl group who sing for us troops in 1968 at the beginning of the vietnam war. After seeing the sapphires win audience awards at film festivals on several continents, wayne blair knows that his directorial debut pleases crowds. This film relates the story of a group of aboriginal australian singers who perform for american troops during the vietnam war. The lightskinned cousin is taken to become part of what is now known as the stolen generation, with no contact with her family. The sapphires soundtrack is on the way to double platinum in australia.
In this case, the aboriginal girls portrayed in the film are discriminated for being black by. Its 1968, and four young, talented australian aboriginal girls learn about love, friendship and war when their allgirl group the sapphires entertain the us troops in vietnam. The sapphires soundtrack list the sapphires movie 2012. What stood out as the main pointshighlights in the movie. Oct 30, 2012 a great song off the 2012 movie the sapphires. Nov 06, 2012 media caption the sapphires cast and director spoke to bbc news about the project. Apr 15, 20 after seeing the sapphires win audience awards at film festivals on several continents, wayne blair knows that his directorial debut pleases crowds.
Like so many other films from the 1940s and 1950s, sapphire is yet another piece of groundbreaking british cinema now long forgotten. Australian welcome to country is twice subverted to reinforce this theme, firstly in the cummeragunja pub and secondly in wartorn vietnam. In this series on good australian films for students in years 7 to 10, teachers are urged to remind students to look at the what, how and why of. It is based on tony briggs 2004 play with the same name and premiered at the cannes film festival in 2012. The sapphires deals with themes of entrenched racism, search for. In the sapphires, we meet the future singers as children, three sisters and their cousin, performing at a family celebration in 1958. Chris odowd british tvs family tree and the it crowd, who looks like a young david arquette is a refreshing surprise as dave lovelace though we first see him sleeping in his car, the newly hired manager of the sapphires quartet, four australian aboriginal young ladies, three sisters and one cousin deborah mailman, jessica mauboy, shari sebbens, and miranda tapsell, loosely. Watch the sapphires online stream full movie directv. The sapphires is based on the reallife story of four courageous indigenous australian women.
Our series on good films for teenagers continues with an exploration of the australian film the sapphires. Good films for teenagers the sapphires gary simmons. A film with a full range of emotional exploration but primarily fun and fantastic performances by the women who portray the sapphires and a tremendous supporting cast. The sapphires is an inspirational tale set in the heady days of the late 60s about a quartet of young, talented singers from a remote aboriginal mission, discovered and guided by a kindhearted, soulloving manager. Parents need to know that the sapphires is a factbased musical drama about an aboriginal singing group that went to vietnam in the 1960s to entertain the soldiers.
This film is aimed at a wide audience, rated pg its a movie that even children can watch, even though theyll probably be unable to understand some of the themes that are addressed throughout the film. The sapphires is an exuberant musical dramedy, loosely based on a true story and set in australia and vietnam, thats about the reallife womens singing group that lends the film its title. The sapphires by wayne blair essay 2183 words bartleby. We watch white audience members leave rather than listen to the sisters sing. Good films for teenagers the sapphires gary simmons abc. The sapphires is about four indigenous australian women, gail deborah mailman, julie jessica mauboy, kay shari sebbens and cynthia miranda tapsell, who are discovered by a talent scout chris odowd, and form a music group named the sapphires, travelling to vietnam in 1968 to sing for troops during the war. A scene from the sapphires 2012 fuse department of. The sapphires film analysis assessment task by prezi user. Four talented, spunky girls get plucked from obscurity to form a soulsinging girl group that hits it big in the 60s. Aside from the themes of racism, other key themes and ideas in the movie include. Julie wasnt allowed to go with gail and cynthia because she is too young and she is carrying a baby. A feelgood film based on the true story of an aboriginal girl. The movie was produced by goalpost pictures, and distributed by hopscotch films.
Great script, great acting, great directing and humor. Based on a true story and adapted from the stage play, the sapphires is an overthetop comedymusicaldrama thatll have you laughing, crying and celebrating the achievement of. A feelgood film based on the true story of an aboriginal girl group battling. The sapphires tells a story of the soul down under the. The sapphires is one of australias bestloved stories. This multiple award winning musical play, that inspired the film, is coming to the brolga theatre stage for the first time. Gary simmons sets out ways to enhance students understanding of visual texts. The sapphires 2012 is an engaging film directed by prominent australian filmmaker wayne blair. The film takes place during a war presumably the vietnam war.
The credit sequence updates us on what happened after the sapphires came home, with an extraordinary record of achievement, photos of the women who inspired the film, and a concluding line of piercing sweetness. Blair carefully constructs the character of gail and makes effective use of. Despite this, julie is determined to become a star. Set in 1968, the sapphires is based on the true story of four indigenous australian singers. The sapphires has been described as a feelgood movie about bad things. The film entitled the sapphires is centered on the lives and adventures of four aboriginal women who are members of a musical group called the sapphires. And most recently jessica picked up the best supporting actress award for her role in the sapphires at the 20 accta awards australias version of the oscars. Wayne blair, director of the sapphires used a combination of cinematography, dialogue, flashbacks and voiceover throughout the film. Set at the time of the american civil rights movement, the film blends musical comedy, drama and romance with an examination of race relations in australia. A decade later, as young women, the sisters still sing together. It is easily one of my top five films to teach in year 12 and is an easy link for students to make between the yorta yorta and maori and the treatment of indigenous.
There are some very, very serious themes in here and there is an. Prejudice when a person judges another person for being in a particular group. The film was produced by goalpost pictures and distributed by hopscotch films. The sapphires movie 2012 soundtrack list tracklist ost listen to original theme music from the motion picture, film score list, all songs list playlist, who sings them, including end credits. Sapphires essay by neha 9h heaps gooder english blog. These film techniques developed my understanding of the extent of prejudice and the consequence prejudice can have. Sunshiny effervescence dominates wayne blairs 60sset parable of selfdetermination, the sapphires a reallife tale of a group of soul sisters and their cousin who. Plucked from obscurity, the four spirited women with powerhouse voices called the sapphires are given the opportunity to entertain american troops in vietnam.
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