Kodak/Atlab Cinema Collection

L-R: Kay (Karen Colston), Sweetie (Genevieve Lemon), Gordon (Jon Darling)

Sweetie (1989)

A new 35mm print of this feature is now available on request. Courtesy of Arenafilm Pty Ltd and Kodak (Australasia) and Atlab Australia

National Film and Sound Archive
Title Number 203859.

Classification: M rating

Synopsis

This bizarre black comedy is filled with unsettling themes and images that brilliantly depict a dysfunctional family. Two sisters in their twenties are caught up in the tyranny of family life. Kay is gangly, superstitious and colourless with a morbid fear of trees. Sweetie is plump, self-centred and raucous with an uncontrollable presence and manic behaviour that invades and upturns Kay's carefully ordered existence.

Sweetie (Genevieve Lemon)

Background

Winner of the Los Angeles Film Critics Award for Best Film.

Sally Bongers was the first female cinematographer to work on an Australian 35mm film.

Director
Jane Campion

Year of Production 1989
Duration 104 minutes
Format 35mm, (1:1,85) Colour
Optical Soundtrack Mono, remastered to Dolby® Digital

Production Company
Arenafilm

Producer
John Maynard

Screenplay
Gerard Lee, Jane Campion

Director of Photography
Sally Bongers

Production Design
Peter Harris

Costume Design
Amanda Lovejoy

Editor
Veronika Haussler

Sound Recordist
Leo Sullivan

Music
Martin Armiger

Cast
Genevieve Lemon (Sweetie)
Karen Colston (Kay)
Tom Lycos (Louis)
Jon Darling (Gordon)
Dorothy Barry (Flo)
Michael Lake (Bob)
Andre Pataczek (Clayton)
Jean Hadgraft (Mrs Schneller)
Paul Livingston (Teddy Schneller)

Further Information

Visit Senses of Cinema for analysis of Sweetie:

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