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National Film and Sound Archive of AustraliaNational Film and Sound Archive
National Film and Sound Archive of Australia
National Film and Sound Archive
National Film and Sound Archive of Australia
National Film and Sound Archive

Deborah Mailman in The Sapphires: Yellow bird

2012

Deborah Mailman in The Sapphires: Yellow bird

2012

  • NFSA IDVBAWBT8Y
  • TypeFilm
  • MediumMoving Image
  • FormFeature Film
  • Duration1 hr, 43 mins
  • GenresMusical, Indigenous-produced, Indigenous themes or stories, Indigenous as subject, Comedy, Drama
  • Year2012
  • WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that the following program may contain images and/or audio of deceased persons

This early scene in The Sapphires (Wayne Blair, 2012), introduces us to 3 of the main characters in the film – Gail (Deborah Mailman), Cynthia (Miranda Tapsell) and Julie (Jessica Mauboy), three talented Aboriginal sisters who live in a rural town and sing in a girl group.

The scene establishes Gail as the big sister who takes charge of things, Cynthia as the wild one and Julie as the major talent destined for great things. It also features Kylie Belling as their mother, Geraldine.

The Sapphires is based on the 2004 stage play of the same name by actor, writer and producer Tony Briggs, that 🚨 Invalid link 🚨 tells the true story of 4 young Aboriginal women who travel to Vietnam during the war in the late 1960s to entertain the troops.

Briggs’ mother and aunt were both members of the original Sapphires and, after the stage show was a hit, he adapted the story into an award-winning feature film that debuted at the Cannes Film Festival.

Mailman also starred as Cynthia in the original stage production of The Sapphires at the Belvoir St Theatre in Sydney, 2005.

Courtesy of
Goalpost Pictures
  • WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that the following program may contain images and/or audio of deceased persons

This early scene in The Sapphires (Wayne Blair, 2012), introduces us to 3 of the main characters in the film – Gail (Deborah Mailman), Cynthia (Miranda Tapsell) and Julie (Jessica Mauboy), three talented Aboriginal sisters who live in a rural town and sing in a girl group.

The scene establishes Gail as the big sister who takes charge of things, Cynthia as the wild one and Julie as the major talent destined for great things. It also features Kylie Belling as their mother, Geraldine.

The Sapphires is based on the 2004 stage play of the same name by actor, writer and producer Tony Briggs, that 🚨 Invalid link 🚨 tells the true story of 4 young Aboriginal women who travel to Vietnam during the war in the late 1960s to entertain the troops.

Briggs’ mother and aunt were both members of the original Sapphires and, after the stage show was a hit, he adapted the story into an award-winning feature film that debuted at the Cannes Film Festival.

Mailman also starred as Cynthia in the original stage production of The Sapphires at the Belvoir St Theatre in Sydney, 2005.

Courtesy of
Goalpost Pictures
  • Director
    Wayne Blair
    Writer
    Keith Thompson, Tony Briggs
    Cast
    Deborah Mailman, Miranda Tapsell, Jessica Mauboy
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