THE SAPPHIRES (2012)

THE SAPPHIRES is an Australian drama about a musical group of four young Aborigine women who go to Vietnam to entertain the troops in 1968. It was rated PG for discriminatory language, mild bad language, mild sex and threat.

The film is set against the backdrop of the civil rights movement in the US and the institutionalised racism of the Australian establishment in the 1960s. In order to establish this, there is archive footage of Mohammed Ali saying he won’t be called a 'nigger'. There are also scenes in which one of the young women calls her mixed race half sister a 'coconut' and a scene in which an injured soldier says he doesn't want a black woman touching him. There are uses of the terms 'Abo' and 'gubba'. The use of such terms and the portrayal of discriminatory attitudes reflects the period in which the film is set. They also serve an educational purpose in raising awareness about racism, which the film clearly condemns. Additionally, there are some uses of mild bad language, including 'arse', 'balls', 'bullshit', 'crap', 'heck', 'Jesus Christ', 'piss', 'screw' and 'tits'.

There is a discreetly implied sex scene. It occurs in a romantic context and there is no emphasis on the physical aspects of sex.

At one point the camp in which the girls are performing comes under attack. Mortar fire causes explosions and soldiers are shown being shot. There is no bloody detail but there is a sense of threat as the girls flee from danger. There is also one scene of mild violence, some scenes of emotional distress and some sight of smoking. The smoking is neither glamorised nor promoted and reflects the historical period in which the film is set.

PG stands for Parental Guidance. A PG film should not disturb a child aged around eight or older. However, parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger or more sensitive children.