The Sapphires is the most joyous Vietnam war movie I've ever seen

I really couldn’t have been more in the mood for The Sapphires. It's a combination of two of my very favorite genres. Heartwarming, socially conscious comedies, and movies where unlikely people find happiness through the power of soul music. And it has my boyfriend Chris O'Dowd in it. Done.

The Sapphires tells the true the story of Aboriginal sisters and country singers Gail (Deborah Mailman), Cynthia (Miranda Tapsell) and Julie (Jessica Mauboy). They find a manager in washed up cutie pie Dave (O'Dowd), a new soul sound, and their long-lost cousin Kay (Shari Sebbens). They then tour war-time Vietnam and generally have a rollicking good time.

Firstly, this has to be one of the most cheerful Vietnam War movies ever. Though it does get a bit hairy at one point (and I was so emotionally involved by then I did have a little cry or 3), generally this is a feel good story. It's kind of amazing that a film dealing with horrific racism, set mostly in a war zone could be such a joyous watch.

O’Dowd’s presence does help. Playing a scruffalicious Irish dude, he’s hardly stretching himself, but I know that any movie with Chris O’Dowd in is probably going to end well, and I find it comforting. I pray he never tries to do some edgy shit and try to play a suicidal limbless monk or a rapist or something. It was bad enough when he played the mean rich dude Jessa married in Girls.

The cockle warming continues though the final credits when the extraordinary later lives of the real life Sapphires are revealed. The film is co-written by Julie’s son, and the affection felt towards these characters is palpable.

The most striking thing about the movie is its direct depiction of the racism faced by Aboriginal Australians. The opening credits reveal a truly horrifying fact: until 1967; the native Australians were not classified as humans by the Australian government, but considered "flora or fauna."

The girls face constant racism, from the white townies who ignore them at an open mic, to the sickening government policy that tore their family apart. Light skinned Kay is one of the Stolen Generation, taken from her family to be raised as a white. When the girls are reunited she stuck in limbo: not fitting in with deeply racist white society, and alienated from her own family. Joining the group offers her a chance to connect to her roots and make up for lost time.

I’m ashamed to say I knew so little about the details of these events. That this happened so recently, with so little remorse and reparations from the Australian government is shocking. The fact that the real Sapphires devoted their lives to furthering the aboriginal cause makes it all the more inspiring. Basically The Sapphires is rad. Watch it. Done.

First published on strongfemalelead.wordpress.com