The Sapphires (2012)

Practically perfect, this musical about an Aboriginal girl group in 1968 Australia entertaining troops in Vietnam lives up to its fabulous trailer. We danced in our seats, tapped our toes, laughed, and cried (well, I did). In this day of growing awareness of civil rights for LGBT folks, I get particularly emotional about the earlier struggles of "blackfellas," as they're called in this movie. Chris O'Dowd (last blogged in This is 40) is terrifically entertaining as the dissolute Irish manager Dave. Eldest sister Gail, played by Deborah Mailman (was in the wonderful Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002) and Bran Nue Dae, the first of which also dealt with injustice to Aborigines by whites. She has won a number of awards and can pass for 20-something even though she's 40!) takes no prisoners. Middle sister Cynthia (Miranda Tapsell, new to me) is cute, like a dark-hued Kristen Chenoweth. Cousin Kay (Shari Sebbens, also new to me) is an adorable ingenue. Youngest sister Julie, played by Jessica Mauboy (her claim to fame is that she was the runner-up in 2009's Australian Idol, but she was also in Bran Nue Dae and sang three songs in it) definitely has the pipes for the part. In fact Mauboy is the only one of the four who actually sings her own parts in the movie.

Inspired by a true story, the movie's script was co-written by Tony Briggs, the son of one of the real singers, Laurel Robinson. Briggs (also an actor in Bran Nue Dae and other movies) adapted his stage play (his first play and his first movie script) with Keith Thompson (plenty of TV scripts and some script consultant gigs on movies). Wayne Blair, also of Aboriginal descent, makes his feature directing debut after a few dozen TV episodes. It was shot in Sydney, other locations in New South Wales, Australia, and Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon).

The soundtrack is by Cezary Skubiszewski (Bran Nue Dae and a bunch of others I don't know) but you will remember only the songs. A list of them, with the people who sang them, is below and the links I provide are mostly clips from the movie, but there are a few spoilers in there and I strongly urge you to see the whole movie as soon as you can.

Songs on the soundtrack album:

•Land of a Thousand Dances - Jessica Mauboy, backup: Jade MacRae, Juanita Tippins, Mahalia Barnes 

•I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Jessica Mauboy, backup: Jade MacRae, Juanita Tippins, Mahalia Barnes 

•What A Man - Jessica Mauboy, backup: Jade MacRae, Juanita Tippins, Mahalia Barnes
•I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) - Jessica Mauboy & Chris O'Dowd, backup: Jade MacRae, Juanita Tippins, Mahalia Barnes, Rob Edwards, Jonah Lafukelu
•Who's Loving You? - Jessica Mauboy, backup: Jade MacRae, Juanita Tippins, Mahalia Barnes

•I'll Take You There - Jessica Mauboy

•Gotcha - Jessica Mauboy 

•Soul Man - Sam & Dave

•Hold On! I'm Comin' - Sam & Dave

•Run Through The Jungle - Creedence Clearwater Revival 

•Today I Started Loving You Again - Jessica Mauboy, Juanita Tippens & Jade MacRae

•People Make The World A Better Place - Juanita Tippens , backup: Jessica Mauboy, Jade MacRae, Mahalia Barnes

•Yellow Bird - Jessica Mauboy & Lou Bennett

•Ngarra Burra Ferra - Jessica Mauboy, Lou Bennett, Juanita Tippens & Jade MacRae 

•Shouting Out Love - The Emotions

•In the Sweet Bye and Bye - Darren Percival

Songs in the movie but not included on the album:

•Morningtown Ride - The Seekers

•Sadie the Cleaning Lady

•Burnt Biscuits - The Triumphs

•Soul Sister, Brown Sugar - Rob Edwards, Jonah Latukefu

•Lonely Teardrops - Jackie Wilson

•Hush (South)

•Saigon '68

•If You Need Me - Prinnie Stevens, backup: Jessica Mauboy, Jade MacRae, Juanita Tippins

•The Banana Boat Song (Day-O) - Miah Madden, Tjanara Bell, Mi-Kaisha Masella, Lou Bennett

•These Arms of Mine - Rob Edwards

•Nha Trang Vamp - Bry Jones

•Get Used to Me - Jessica Mauboy