Sweet As

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.

"Sweet As" is a thinly-disguised tourism advertisement, that reminds the serious traveller not to waste time on the cities but to get out to where you'll be sure, but only just, that you can find your way back to the road.

The main character is Western Australia. That's where you can lose your trivial self. But don't get lost for real, because roads are only few and they're quite far between. It's all millions of years old; and tens of thousands of years of habitation by the ABCs (the Australians Before Cook) did about as much damage to the environment as a couple of hours of ferocious activity by extractive industries in our unapologetic capitalism.

Some young people, who are learning about photography, have been inserted, as a flimsy excuse for taking pictures of this Main Character. I can't remember what happens in their story - the cop is a good guy, and the rough elements are suitably rough. Some of the young people are supposed to be dysfunctional. No-one gets killed, and no-one gets pregnant - or not that I noticed.

Civilisation, in this portrayal of WA, consists mainly of big silos and big stacks of minerals waiting to be loaded onto ships - the cinematographer does good work here, contrasting this coastal fringe of frenetic activity with the Big Land, which looks on silently and is not much impressed by what it sees.

Shantae Barnes-Cowan, as well as being easy on the eye, can do that actor's thing: replace half a page of dialogue with a "look" - and if that half-page was going to be mainly cliche, that look will do just fine. As Murra, she adds nifty titles to nifty snap-shots. To Murra, this is her land; to the average Australian it's just real estate and marketable resources.

So the land cries out: See me, don't sell me; feel my pulse, don't flog me off. Viewers of this movie might find themselves wishing that the humans on the screen would hurry up and finish whatever it is they're doing, so that the camera can get back to connecting this heartland to our hearts.

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!