Thursday, November 28, 2013

The Sapphires 2012


The Sapphires     This film is inspired by a true story.  In 1968, four Aboriginal Australian girls would like to be discovered as singers.  They enter a local talent contest, even though they are the best, they are not selected as the winners.  They meet Dave, he is a talent scout and he wants to transform them into a Motown-inspired singing group.  He knows they have the talent and they just need polish.  Surprisingly, their first real job turns out to be singing for the US troops in Vietnam.  Their parents and other relatives are very worried about this venture but Dave assures them they will be well protected.
     The true story is that there was a singing group called The Sapphires but originally there were three singers.  They performed at hotels, pubs, cabarets, parties, army barracks and universities around Melbourne.  Beverly Briggs and Naomi Mayers declined the trip to Vietnam because they were against the war.  Laurel Robinson asked her sister Lois Peeler to join her.  They performed backup vocals for a New Zealand Maori band.  It was this band that introduced them to soul music.  The character of manager Dave was fiction.  This film follows the formula of this genre but slightly different and interesting.  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

99 min, Drama directed by Wayne Blair with Chris O’Dowd, Miranda Tapsell, Deborah Mailman, Jessica Mauboy, Shari Sebbens.

Note:  Blockbuster 2 ½*, imdb 6.9 out of 10, 92% critic 77% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.
Special Note:  I find it interesting that fictional manager Dave is featured on the DVD cover?





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