Plucked from obscurity, the four spirited women with powerhouse voices called the sapphires are given the opportunity to entertain american troops in vietnam. The sapphires is an inspirational tale set in the late 60s about a quartet of young, talented singers from a remote aboriginal mission the teams costume bus, which has a trailer attached to. 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. This movie addresses multiple issues that were present in australia at. Until, in the chaos of 1968, theyre plucked from the obscurity of a remote aboriginal mission, branded as australias answer to the supremes, and grasping the chance of a lifetime dropped into the jungles of vietnam to entertain the troops. In an era of significant racial discrimination, they used their singing talents to entertain american soldiers in vietnam. The sapphires chris odowd stars in this jumbled, sketchily written but vastly.
Until kay was removed from cummeragunja, the girls felt betrayed by kay and their relationship. The sapphires came from leftfield, chris odowd, comedy, soul music, thought it would be a pleasant diversion but nothing special, worth streaming an undemanding before bedtime. Cowritten by the son of one of the reallife singers and directed by wayne blair, who starred in the play based on their story, the sapphires is clearly a labor of love for all involved. 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 chronicles 4 australian singers in the 1960s the. Jessica mauboy, who portrays the lead singer of the sapphires, has sold over 1. Media caption the sapphires cast and director spoke to bbc news about the project.
The sapphires is a 2012 australian musical comedydrama film based on the 2004 stage play. A very conventional story of a 60s australian girl group gains extra power from its context. This analysis is based on a group presentation we have presented. Acted in the 1960s, the girls go around signing in tatty bars, performing country and western music. Film analysis of the sapphires 1288 words bartleby. The sapphires shines light on aboriginal australia bbc news. The sapphires was released in 2012 and was directed by wayne blair it was based off of the true story of four aboriginal women. Original motion picture soundtrack is a soundtrack album for the film the sapphires 2012, released on 27 july 2012 by sony music australia. This movie addresses multiple issues that were present in australia at the time. In the sapphires, we meet the future singers as children, three sisters and their cousin, performing at a family celebration in 1958. The piano player for the talent show is an irish musician called dave. A proud moment for australian film, this movie definitely proves the chops of our local industry, while also simply providing a picture that is a pleasure to watch.
The movie itself, directed by wayne blair from a script by keith thompson and tony briggs, is sort of the opposite a solid, stirring song sung. Film study the sapphires year 10 english with mrs wearden. It is based on tony briggs 2004 play with the same name and premiered at the cannes film festival in 2012. The sapphires is an adaptation of the hugely successful australian stage musical of the same name, and is inspired by the remarkable true story of writer tony briggs mother and her family. The sapphires feels like a movie youve already seen, but its nonetheless thoroughly enjoyable, like a pop song thats no less infectious when you know every word. Before you start viewing the film, if is important for you to know something about the context or background of the story. Jun 07, 2014 the journey through vietnam changes gail. She is young and has the strongest voice out of all of the four, in the beginning of the movie she is seen holding her baby, and arguing with her mother and sisters about not going to the competition because she has a baby to take care of. I didnt expect to be writing this through tear filled eyes, smiling and a bit knocked for six. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Nov 07, 2012 w ayne blairs the sapphires is a likable, uneven feelgood movie, based on real life. On his way out he gets into a conversation with them and one of them shows him a newspaper clipping that advertises jobs to entertain the troops in vietnam. The sapphires could be australias version of dreamgirls, a sentimental comingofage flick about a group of young black girls on the rise to fame singing motown hits in the 60s, but its.
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. Jun 26, 20 film study the sapphires this week you are going to begin looking at the sapphires. Based on a true story, the sapphires transports four young australian aboriginal women and their motowninspired soulsisters act from an impoverished outback. The sapphires film analysis assessment task by prezi user on. Chris odowd stars in this tale of aboriginal pop singers on tour in vietnam. This is a small criticism though, and the parts of the sapphires that really matter do not warrant any disapproval. This is an australian film, about four aboriginal girls. 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. At the beginning of the film kay was very close with her three cousins, they performed plays together and gail protected kay like she was her one of her own as shown in the flashback. Based on a true story, the sapphires is a triumphant celebration of youthful emotion, family and music. The film is unconcerned with historical complexity, just the seamless flow of hollywoodstyle storytelling that lazily connects one musical.
The movie got a lot of praise for the acting and the story that was portrayed but it also got a lot of heat from the race that was portrayed in the movie. I have included suitable websites for you to use for your research worksheet. The lightskinned cousin is taken to become part of what is now known as the stolen generation, with no contact with her family. The truth at the core of this movie is that an aboriginal female soul quartet had to push past racial discrimination at home to entertain troops in. 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. W ayne blairs the sapphires is a likable, uneven feelgood movie, based on real life. Sunshiny effervescence dominates wayne blairs 60sset parable of selfdetermination, the sapphires a reallife tale of. Nov 06, 2012 media caption the sapphires cast and director spoke to bbc news about the project. 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.
Jul 12, 2012 the sapphires is an adaptation of the hugely successful australian stage musical of the same name, and is inspired by the remarkable true story of writer tony briggs mother and her family. Four aboriginal singers go on a journey to entertain vietnam war troops in director wayne blairs. 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. Movie fans will know chris odowd from his costarring role in the smash hit bridesmaids. Gail, cynthia, julie and kay are sexy, black, young and talented and theyve never set foot outside australia. This significant event was a period in late 1800s1960s where children from both indigenous, and nonindigenous i. Julie is one of the many main characters in the movie, the sapphires. Oct 30, 2012 a great song off the 2012 movie the sapphires a great song off the 2012 movie the sapphires skip navigation sign in.
Im not denigrating those filmssome are worldclassbut its wonderful to skip out of a movie that shines with positivity telling a unique aboriginal story. He attempts to defend the girls and gets fired in the process. The sapphires film analysis assessment task by prezi user. The sapphires is about four indigenous australian women, gail deborah mailman. Our heroines are a singing group of aboriginal women in 1960s. Inspired by a true story, the sapphires follows four vivacious, young and talented australian aboriginal girls from a. Watch the sapphires online stream full movie directv. 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. Racism in the sapphires the strong presence of racism among australian communities as depicted in the film caused such events, namely the stolen generation, to occur. The sapphires film 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. A feelgood film based on the true story of an aboriginal girl group battling prejudice in 1960s australia wowed.
Wayne blairs the sapphires is the best new historical film that you most likely have not seen, yet. The sapphires by wayne blair essay 2183 words bartleby. 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. How refreshing to see a movie starring aboriginal girls, who arent portrayed as drunken, drug taking hopeless cases. Inspired by a true story, the sapphires follows four vivacious, young and talented australian aboriginal girls from a remote mission as they learn about love, friendship and war when their all. The sapphires the sapphires has been described as a feelgood movie about bad things. In the movie, three aboriginal sisters and their cousin win a competition for a paid gig in. The sapphires a tuneful trip to vietnam 12 chicago. Jaclyn butler 04242012 intracultural communications professor brook film analysis on 2009s precious analyzing a dynamic film like the 2009 precious is difficult. Mar 29, 20 the director, wayne blair, makes his feature film debut with the sapphires, and with the casting of bridesmaids costar chris odowd as the koori girl groups manager, the movie s focus has. Lois peeler, naomi mayers, laurel robinson and beverley briggs. 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. Calypso medley yellow bird the john b sails marianne jamaica farewell the brothers four duration.
Its also a warm tribute to four women for whom success as performers was just the beginning. Blair carefully constructs the character of gail and makes eff. The sapphires 2012 the screen guide screen australia. Wayne blairs feelgood movie about a 1960s aboriginal girl group is very likable, if lacking in a bit of sexual chemistry, says peter bradshaw. The film is directed by wayne blair and written by keith thompson and tony briggs, the latter of whom wrote the play. The film in question is the sapphires, which was released in the year 2012. We speak to the three original members of the sapphires on whose lives the australian hit movie is based. Sapphires essay by neha 9h heaps gooder english blog. A feelgood film based on the true story of an aboriginal girl. Watch the sapphires starring chris odowd in this comedy on directv. The movie is entertaining, and the story has a lot for older children to talk about. Billed as australias answer to the supremes, dave secures the sisters their first true gig, and flies them to vietnam to sing for the american troops. The four girls who play the sapphires are real gems excuse the pun.
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