For four young Aboriginal sisters from a remote town, 1968 was the year that would change their lives forever. Around the world there was revolutions and drugs. And there was Vietnam. The sisters, Cynthia, Gail, Julie and Kay are discovered by Dave, a talent scout with a kind heart, very little rhythm but a great love of soul music. Billed as Australia's answer to 'The Supremes', Dave secures their first gig, and then takes them to Vietnam to sing for the troops. Based on a true story, The Sapphires is a triumphant celebration of love, family and music. Review Chris O'Dowd already has a strong body of work on the small screen to his name. With musical comedy The Sapphires, his increasingly impressive movie career also gets a further boost. Following his supporting turn in smash-hit Bridesmaids, this time O'Dowd gets the starring role, playing a talent scout in 1968, who discovers four Australian Aboriginal singers. Based on a true story, that quartet come together to form The Sapphires--a musical group not a million miles removed from The Supremes. The Sapphires, under O'Dowd's guidance, take their singing talents to Vietnam, where they sing for the American troops in the midst of war. And the sheer energy and uplifting quality of their vocal performances are real highlights. The Sapphires also crams in a few points about the backdrop to the film, and has one or two things to say along its journey. It does get just a little muddled at times, but it never loses your attention. Furthermore, the humour works here, and the performances are really good and very likeable. The music, too, is terrific, and it adds up to a movie that's got a good deal of heart to it and a whole lot of entertainment. The package is also bolstered by some reasonable behind the scenes extra features on the disc, including an interview with the real life Sapphires. It might not have been the kind of film that sweeps the award ceremonies, but The Sapphires will nonetheless be enjoyed, and rightly so, for some time to come. --Jon Foster