Sweet As

It is with heaviness that I write this review, for of course I watch every film with the hope of liking it. Unfortunately this one was not one of them. To begin, most of the plot, which takes place on what is essentially a guided bus tour is incredibly rigid. The adults make all the important decisions about when and where to stop. When stopped the teenagers are allowed to explore a little until the adults in charge again decide when to leave and where to go next. Rinse and repeat. It felt painfully, like those guided tours for the elderly, which I think is the last thing trip teenager would want to do. There is little of what most teenagers I think are yearning: agency This is a huge problem for the film as it tries to be a kind of coming of age and self discovery film for teenagers and yet presents an environment that is extremely stifling. This makes the whole plot development of self discovery quite unrealistic. The characters are developed in quite a shallow, even pathological way. The film reduces the characters simply to the issue the filmmakers have diagnosed them with, whether it's unreliable parents, abusive partners or suicidalness. I find it quite perplexing that filmmakers which are trying to shed a sympathetic light on some of the issues in our society should make the same mistake that whose who dismiss the issues or try to come up with simplistic solutions to them (typically on the right of the political spectrum) make, which is a narrow oversimplification of people into rigid categories (i.e. Think 'criminals', 'druggies','dropouts' etc). The dialogue and the chemistry between the actors is also pretty poor. The transition from hostility towards each other to being good friends seemed to happen suddenly out of the blue without a realistic development. The happy ending was in my opinion also infuriating (I will disclose that I am a fan of neorealist films, so I might feel more strongly about this than others!) Not only did the film imply that this one trip 'solved' all the problems the teenagers had, but it also seemed to magically solve the problems in their families who never went on the trip (i.e. Murra's mum vows not to abandon her again). Such an ending again served to oversimplify the issues in our society. If it was so simple our world would be a better place! Most tragically however it serves to undermine class consciousness and the awareness of all the different forces in society that serve to maintain the status quo interests. Finally a small thing that bugged me was how the young guide man was wearing headphones when the teenagers had been forbidden from using theirs. This is the hypocrisy of adults which teenagers are fully justified railing against. On the positive side, some of the scenery was really beautiful.

I'll start with the positives, shot well with beautiful Aussie landscapes and some refreshing Aboriginal music - Thats it. It's simply about a bunch of teens who are (apparently) troubled who get to go on a how to take photos tour bus in the middle of the Aussie outback and they are supposed to learn that photos are about stories and then they can find themselves. What I watched was a bunch of teens who had NO real trauma at all, just a bunch of winging teens. No stakes, no danger, no climax, absolutely nothing. This is the most underdeveloped story Screen Australia has ever made. If this was developed by you and funded - you actually thought, it was ready? A bunch of teems take photos and they just walk around, take photos, talk, have an argument, talk, take photos, something almost happens but then doesn't. No character arcs, no story arcs - actually there is no story here, your filming life at slow motion. I am a BIG advocator of Indigenous films, especially because I am of color. This was NOT a film, just a bunch of scenes. You as an agency have no idea what you are doing, ticking the diversity boxes again. Bad story, bad direction, bad script. And the actors were shocking apart from Mark Coles Smith. Don't waste your time, it's the slowest most boring film you'll ever watch and it's hard to sit through.

If you are looking for an excellent, must-see movie, head to the cinema to see Sweet As. It tells the story of Murra, an Indigenous Australian teen who discovers her love for photography at a youth camp in Western Australia. Jub Clerc directs this captivating film that mixes coming-of-age and road trip genres, resulting in a lively and compelling plot. The film boasts a brilliant cast of actors, especially Shantae Barnes-Cowan, who plays Murra with realism and nuance. Sweet As is deeply influenced by the Indigenous Australian idea of country - the bond between people, land, and culture. The film shows how Murra's connection to her country influences her identity and sense of belonging. For instance, we see how Murra learns from her elders about her heritage and customs, connects with the land through photography, and bonds with her campmates over their common experiences. Sweet As also displays the beautiful scenery of Western Australia, with stunning cinematography that enriches the story's tone and setting. It contrasts the urban and rural environments, the variety of natural landscapes, and the symbolic use of light and colour. The film's music is another strength, featuring original songs that express the film's feelings and themes. Songs mirror Murra's inner conflict, the joy of exploration, and sense of confidence. The movie addresses relevant topics such as identity, belonging, and family with delicacy and elegance. Sweet As will make you laugh, cry, and think as it takes you on a journey with unforgettable characters and a powerful message. The film is a tribute to Indigenous Australian culture's diversity and its filmmakers' skills. Don't miss it!