THE SAPPHIRES

Australia, 2012, 103 minutes, Colour.
Deborah Mailman, Chris O’ Dowd, Jessica Mauboy, Shari Sebbens, Miranda Tapsell, Tory Kittles.
Directed by Wayne Blair.

Quite a crowd pleaser – and deservedly so.
Who were the Sapphires? They were a group of Australian singers who went to Vietnam in the late 1960s to entertain the troops. They have not loomed large in the Australian memory. Why? Was it because the Sapphires were an aboriginal group and their tour of Vietnam took place just after the 1967 referendum on the aboriginal vote?

The film is an adaptation of a musical play written by Tony Briggs whose mother and aunt were members of The Sapphires. It has been directed with feeling by actor, Wayne Blair. It is not intended as a documentary account of what happened. Rather, it is an entertainment, an often-thoughtful entertainment, developing story lines from the original experiences.

It is a delight to see pictures of the women at the end of the film and learn of their more than forty years of service to the aboriginal communities, especially in Redfern.

On an aboriginal mission in country Victoria, some girls enter a competition in the local town, much to the prejudice of the hotel proprietor and many of the people attending the talent quest. The girls don’t win. And some bigoted, even vicious comments are aimed at them.

Meanwhile out on the mission, two young women are part of the group, (Gail, the ever-impressive Deborah Mailman, and Cynthia, Miranda Tapsell) performing to the delight of parents and the community – and a younger sister, Julie who sings best (Jessica Mauboy) who is determined to be part of it (and wangles getting into town). The breakthrough comes with the lackadaisickal compere at the competition, Dave (Chris O’ Dowd). He becomes alert to the talent and offers to be the girls’ manager. Not easy because, Gail, the older sister, has a highly developed sense of responsibility. She clashes vigorously with Dave but is persuaded that they should go to Melbourne for an audition.

While the film offers many images of aboriginal life and status in the late 1960s, it also introduces the theme of the stolen generation when the girls need a cousin who lives in Melbourne, passing as white to her subconsciously racist friends, Kay (Shari Stebbens). Gail has issues with Kay which will surface when they are on tour.

To their delight and glee, the girls impress at the audition and they and their manager are en route to Saigon.

Audiences are familiar with the visuals of the Vietnam war from classics like Apocalypse Now and The Deer Hunter, grim pictures of jungle battles, snipers in unfamiliar terrains, the Viet Cong. Apocalypse Now and, especially Bette Midler’s singing of In My Life in For the Boys, have stories of the entertainers. While the same elements are present here, convincingly portrayed, life in Saigon, the American presence, the touches of sleaze, but it is the range of songs, the situations where the concerts are held, the appreciation of the American soldiers which give verve and energy to the film.

The interesting thing is how the girls respond. Cynthia is out for a good time, boys, drink, even drugs. Julie, who has a little boy at home, is more cautious, but reacts against Gail’s supervision, but gets the opportunity to impress entrepreneurs. Kay is attracted to a soldier but conscious of her mixed race background. In the meantime, Dave and Gail fight, are caught up in dangerous situations, including a bombardment – but, of course, they are really attracted to each other, despite Dave’s often drinking, gambling and missing bookings.

There is use of some footage from the period, a recreation of the sense of the war in Australia at the time, protest and support. But, it is the characters and the amazing tour that they would not have anticipated as well as the range of songs of the time (and Jessica Mauboy’s performances with the others’ backup), that makes the film both lightly and seriously enjoyable.

1. The popularity of the film? In Australia? Overseas? Feelgood yet serious?

2. Based on a true story? The final photos of the original Sapphires? The tribute to their work for Aboriginal issues?

3. The title, popular musical groups of the 1960s, their songs, popularity of country and western songs amongst Aboriginal people? US soul and its being transferred to the Vietnam situation, spirit and experience?

4. The prologue, the four girls, their song, the status of Aborigines and mission stations in 1958?

5. The credits, the visual collage, the 1960s, involvement in Vietnam, protests, war action? The later use of footage to contribute to the sense of period? Black and white and colour? Martin Luther King, the assassination? Aboriginal protests? The referendum of 1967? These themes as undertone to the story?

6. 1968, life on the Aboriginal town, cleaner than expected, families, the popularity of song? Parents, grandparents? Children, engagements, hopes?

7. The group going to town, Gail and Cynthia, Julie not being allowed to go? Her age (yet her having the child)? The songs, Yellow Bird, the mother joining in? Gail and Cynthia not getting a lift, the issue of racial prejudice? Julie getting a lift and going to join the girls?

8. The talent quest, the local hotel, the country town, Dave and his being MC, waking in the van, his trousers, the various acts, the girls singing a Seekers song? Gail and Cynthia, Julie joining them? The comments from the audience, their lack of interest, bigotry? The boy as the only one applauding? Gail and her comments about the land, taunting the audience? The walkout? Dave and his being impressed, joining in with the piano? Their not winning, the upset? Out on the street, the bigotry of the owner, Dave sacked?

9. The group, talking with Dave, his urging them to sing soul music rather than country and western? Gail and the clashes with Dave? Julie and the advertisement, pretending not to read, the issue of groups going to Vietnam?

10. The trio, Cynthia as vivacious, the subplot with Jimmy, the engagement, the flashback and her excitement? Calling it off? Julie and her age, her son? Gail as the loyal daughter, mothering, the leader, the arguments with Dave?

11. Dave and his story, his marriage, separation? Wandering Australia? The ad, the phone call, his managing the group? Going to the town, Dad and his comments about fishing and Catfish and its interiors? The mother not wanting Julie to go? Giving the blessing?

12. The character of Kay, the flashbacks, her mother, her being taken, the stolen generation? The other children hiding from the authorities? Kay, her return for her mother’s funeral, wearing the school uniform, her mouthing the work ethic and attitude towards Aborigines? Gail and her being unforgiving? The grandmother knowing where Kay lived? Going for the visit, the Tupperware party, Kay’s friends, their snobbery, the attack? Kay and her decision to go?

13. The rehearsals, the awkwardness, their getting the hang of singing and performing? The sexy attitude of Cynthia? Gail as leader? Julie as the singing force? The audition, the impact, the plans for Vietnam?

14. The picture of Vietnam, location photography, Saigon in the 1960s, the old city, recreated for the film, the newsreel footage? The streets, bars, the Americans, the Vietnamese, the issue of the Viet Cong and spies, the clubs, prostitution?

15. The local agent, Gail asking for money, the hotel accommodation, Kay going to the pool, seeing Robert, the attraction?

16. The performances, the wariness at first, the soldiers all joining in, dancing, success? The performances for small groups, for the hospitals – and their weeping at the injuries? The morale needed after the assassination of Martin Luther King? The number of African Americans on duty in Vietnam?

17. Cynthia, her place in the band, her attitude towards sex, freedom, performing for the crowd, getting off the stage, Gail and her anger with Cynthia?

18. Julie, her being overwhelmed, her songs, her talent, the US possibilities for a career?

19. Kay and Robbie, going out, their talk, the issue of who was black? In the helicopter? The final rescue?

20. Dave, managing, playing the piano? The interaction with each of the girls? Talking frankly with Gail, attacking her for her big mouth? The issue of cash? Receiving the money, his drinking, gambling, mistaking the phone call, no military escort, the dangers?

21. The drive, the Viet Cong stopping them, singing Sadie the Cleaning Lady, Kay talking the Yorta language, their being let through? Greater acceptance of Kay by Gail?

22. The performances, the songs, the spectacle?

23. Dave, Gail, talking, the phone call, from their mother, talking to everyone at home?

24. The attack, running, the helicopters, deaths, Dave and his searching, shot? The audience reaction? Gail’s reaction?

25. The importance of Dave’s letter, Gail reading it, the feelings, the truth?

26. The rescue, the helicopter – and still the bigotry with the American soldier not wanting nigger hands on him, his dying?

27. Dave, being wounded, in the hospital – everybody’s relief that he was alive?

28. Back home, the proposal, the father and his comments on love? The jokes at Dave’s expense? The song, the group, the men on the station joining in? Jimmy and Cynthia? Julie and the bespectacled young man?

29. The final tribute to the actual Sapphires, their photos?

30. A cinematic achievement, for Australian audiences and their perspectives on Aborigines? Overseas?