- Film Review
- Reviewed By Alan Jones
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5 out of 5
Four young Aboriginal women overcome significant obstacles in 1968 to pursue their girl group dreams in this hugely engaging comedy drama inspired by a 2005 play that author Tony Briggs wrote about his mother and three aunts. The quartet is spotted in a dust bowl Australian town by talent show emcee and chancer Dave (Chris O'Dowd), who agrees to be their manager and take them on a tour of Vietnam to entertain US marines with classic soul music. Director Wayne Blair navigates matters of racism and social revolution to provide a model feel-good movie that sparkles with heartfelt humour, terrific stage turns by all four women (including Deborah Mailman of Rabbit-Proof Fence) and a hit-packed Stax/Motown soundtrack. It's all anchored by a snappily sarcastic O'Dowd whose scene-stealing performance is a revelation, but this is a poignant story, too, with a moving tribute to the real-life "dream girls", pictured in the closing credits. The perfect crescendo to a rousing film.
Plot Summary
An Irish music manager discovers four Australian aboriginal singers in a remote mission in the 1960s, and plans to turn them into their country's answer to the Supremes. The naive girls face a challenging journey to stardom when they are sent to entertain American troops in the Vietnam War. Drama, starring Deborah Mailman and Chris O'Dowd.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Dave
- Chris O'Dowd
- Gail
- Deborah Mailman
- Julie
- Jessica Mauboy
- Kay
- Shari Sebbens
- Cynthia
- Miranda Tapsell
- Robby
- Tory Kittles
- Hendo
- Eka Darville
- Nanny Theresa
- Lynette Narkle
- Geraldine
- Kylie Belling
- Selwyn
- Gregory J Fryer
- Myron Ritchie
- Don Battée
- Lt Jenson
- T J Power
- Young Gail
- Tanika Lonesborough
- Young Kay
- Nioka Brennan
Crew
- Director
- Wayne Blair
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