The Sapphires

  • Review Date: March 26, 2013
  • Rated: PG-13
  • Genre: Musical
  • Release Year: 2013
  • Running Time: 103 minutes

Common Sense Media says

Interesting true story has good music, not enough soul.
  • Review Date: March 26, 2013
  • Rated: PG-13
  • Genre: Musical
  • Release Year: 2013
  • Running Time: 103 minutes

Age(i)

2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17

Quality(i)

 
(i)
Watch
Write a review
See all 4 user reviews

What parents need to know

Positive messages

Though the bulk of the movie is about achieving fame and falling in love, there are some interesting human rights themes in the margins. One is about the "stolen generation" of Aboriginal children in Australia; light-skinned children were seized from their families to be raised in white schools and taught "white ways." The movie takes into account some of these racially themed tensions. Other themes include the benefits of hard work and teamwork.

Positive role models

The four female singers show how hard work and teamwork can bring rewards, though very often the main focus of their work is on achieving fame and success. During the end credits, viewers learn that the real-life women never became famous. Instead, they all went to work in their community, living fulfilling lives and trying to make the world a better place for Aborigines.

Violence

An attack sequence in Vietnam includes bombs going off and bullets flying. One of the main characters is hit, but it's seen only from a distance. A little blood is shown. Two of the girls punch each other in the face in one scene; one gets a bloody lip. A gun is introduced but never fired. In a tense flashback, white officials descend upon an Aboriginal village, intending to take any light-skinned children. The girls sing in a Vietnam hospital for wounded soldiers, and viewers see missing limbs, etc. There's a news report about the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Sex

Lots of kissing, and one of the singers is especially flirty with many men, though she's never in any danger. In one scene, she's shown kissing and straddling her prone boyfriend, though they're both fully clothed. Many other romantic scenes of flirting and kissing, though there's really very little sexual innuendo, sexuality, or nudity.

Language

"S--t" is used occasionally, as are the "N" word, "t-ts," "d--k," "ass," "crap," "hell," "damn," and "Jesus Christ" (as an exclamation). Additionally, there's some regional slang, such as "gobshite," "shite," "arse," and "rack off," plus insults like "moron" and "goat face."

Consumerism
Not applicable
Drinking, drugs, & smoking

The main male character is seen drinking (beer and whisky) and drunk fairly often. He wakes up with a comical hangover the first time he's on screen. He gets very drunk during a card game with some soldiers, which results in his making a mistake. He also smokes cigarettes, as do many of the background characters -- which is accurate for the era.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Sapphires is a fact-based musical drama about an Aboriginal singing group that went to Vietnam in the 1960s to entertain the soldiers. In addition to themes of teamwork and following your dreams, it deals with the immoral practice of whites taking light-skinned Aboriginal children away from their families to be re-educated and raised as whites. Sexuality is probably the biggest content issue here, though most of it involves romantic flirting and kissing, with only one scene of real sexual suggestion. There's one scene of Vietnam War-related violence, with shooting and explosions, plus some mild fighting and a little bit of blood. Language includes infrequent use of words like "s--t," "t--s," and the "N" word. And the main male character is a heavy drinker, getting drunk and suffering from a comical hangover in some scenes. Many characters smoke cigarettes (accurate for the era).

Parents say

See 1 parent review
AGE
13
QUALITY
 
Review this title!

Kids say

See 3 kid reviews
AGE
12
QUALITY
 
Review this title!

What's the story?

In 1968 Australia, a trio of talented, passionate singing Aboriginal sisters enters a talent show, where the jaded, keyboard-playing master of ceremonies, Dave Lovelace (Chris O'Dowd), discovers them. The sisters decide to audition for a paid gig as entertainers for the soldiers in Vietnam, and they ask Dave to come along. This requires them to track down a lost cousin, Kay (Shari Sebbens), who was taken as a child and integrated into white culture. Kay joins the group, but tension between her and group leader Gail (Deborah Mailman) starts to escalate. Further tension grows when Dave falls in love with Gail. Can the entertainers learn to get along before something terrible happens to them?

Is it any good?

QUALITY
 

Co-written by Tony Briggs, who's the son of one of the real-life Sapphires, THE SAPPHIRES is beautifully cast and has great music, as well as a terrific true story at its core. It's too bad that that story -- while certainly a feel-good tale -- ends up feeling fairly formulaic; at times it feels more like a story you've heard before than anything that might actually have happened in real life.

At one point, Dave explains how soul music is about loss and fighting to hang on. But at another point, he hangs signs on the four singers with labels like "the sexy one" and "the dance captain." To put it simply, the movie is more about signs like those than about loss or fighting or hanging on. It knows exactly where to put songs, montages, dramatic interruptions, and cheerful celebrations, each of which is designed to push an audience's buttons on cue. Many folks' buttons will definitely be pushed, but it's too bad The Sapphires isn't more in touch with its own soul.

Families can talk about...

  • Families can talk about The Sapphires' sexuality. How much of it is romantic, and how much of it is erotic? Does it ever cross the line?

  •  

  • How does the movie portray the whites' treatment of the Aborigines? Do you think it's accurate? How could you find out more? What did you learn about Aboriginal culture from this movie?

  • What's the allure of fame? Why would these girls have gone to such a dangerous place in search of it?

  • How does the movie depict drinking? Are there any realistic consequences?

Movie details

Theatrical release date:March 22, 2013
DVD release date:August 6, 2013
Cast:Chris O'Dowd, Deborah Mailman, Jessica Mauboy
Director:Wayne Blair
Studio:Weinstein Co.
Genre:Musical
Run time:103 minutes
MPAA rating:PG-13
MPAA explanation:sexuality, a scene of war violence, some language, thematic elements and smoking

This review of The Sapphires was written by

Jeffrey M. Anderson

About our rating system

  • ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
  • PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
  • OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
  • NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids of any age.

Find out more

Quality

Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

Find out more

Learning ratings

  • Best: Really engaging, great learning approach.
  • Very Good: Engaging, good learning approach.
  • Good: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
  • Fair: Somewhat engaging, okay learning approach.
  • Not for Learning: Not recommended for learning.
  • Not for Kids: Not age-appropriate for kids; not recommended for learning.

Find out more

About our buy links

When you use our links to make a purchase, Common Sense Media earns a small affiliate fee from Amazon or iTunes. As a nonprofit organization, these funds help us continue providing independent, ad-free services for educators, families, and kids while the price you pay remains the same. Thank you for your support.
Read more

See more about how we rate and review.

Great handpicked alternatives

For kids who love true stories and musicians

Movies About Musicians
Biopic Movies
See all recommended movie lists

Browse more movies

Top advice and articles

What parents and kids say

See all user reviews

Share your thoughts with other parents and kids Write a user review

A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines

Kid, 12 years old April 10, 2013
AGE
12
QUALITY
 

The Sapphires

It's a good movie full of music and dreams it is suitable for kids around my age which is 12 but there are some kissing scenes for me it's okay but it depends on your child's maturity
Was this review useful?
Flag as inappropriate 
Kid, 12 years old April 15, 2013
AGE
13
QUALITY
 

Love It!

I loved this movie, but it may be a bit mature It has a wonderful story and awesome music. A mature 12 year old could handle this anyhow some information may go over the top of younger kids heads.
What other families should know
Great role models
Too much violence
Too much swearing
Was this review useful?
Flag as inappropriate 
Adult Written byMovieLover92 April 29, 2013
AGE
13
QUALITY
 

Wonderful movie to watch for the whole family.

I thought that this was a really good film. It is a good film that the whole family can watch together and still get something positive out of it. I loved the music and it has a great message about having pride in your heritage and being who you are. It has its funny moments and its tearful moments that make you just want to cry. Overall I rate it 5 out of 5 and I strong encourage people to watch this film.
What other families should know
Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
Was this review useful?
Flag as inappropriate 

See all user reviewsWrite a user review

Poll

Did our review help you make an informed decision about this product?

Poll

What are the different ways that you access Common Sense Media ratings and information? (Check all that apply)

Essential Apps Guide