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Our take
Sweet As is an Australian coming-of-age road film about Indigenous teen Murra and other at-risk kids on a desert photo trip. Home life includes neglect, drug use, and a teen who talks about wanting to die, while the bus journey mixes first crushes, fights, and frequent strong language. Sexual talk, a marijuana bong, and drinking with strangers show up along the way. The teen peril, suicidal thoughts and coarse language call for an older teen and time to talk afterwards
Uplifting themes
Friendship, creativity, and being seen help kids who feel disposable. The film keeps room for repair without pretending home problems vanish overnight Guides and an uncle try to offer structure and care when parents cannot. The teens also learn to own mistakes and look out for one another Country, culture, and photography give families a window into Pilbara life and Indigenous youth experience. Learning arrives through story more than lesson plans
Story (may spoil tone)
With problems on the home front, 15-year-old Murra is on the verge of lashing out. That is, until her policeman uncle thwarts her self-destructive behaviour with a lifeline: a “photo-safari for at-risk kids”. Murra isn’t entirely convinced, but she soon joins cantankerous Kylie, uptight Sean, happy-go-lucky Elvis, and camp counsellors Fernando and Michelle on a transformative bus trip to the Pilbara. On the trail, the teens learn about fun, friendship and first crushes, as well as the forces of ‘reality’ that puncture the bubble of youth.
Details
Violence Teen arguments turn physical in a slap fight, and home anger flares ear…
Teen arguments turn physical in a slap fight, and home anger flares early. The violence is brief and realistic rather than stylised action
Language Frequent strong language runs through home blow-ups and bus tension, mo…
Frequent strong language runs through home blow-ups and bus tension, mostly the f-word plus b-word, dickhead, and bloody. The swearing matches raw teen and adult frustration
Sex / nudity First kisses, crush talk, and blunt sexual jokes travel with the teens.…
First kisses, crush talk, and blunt sexual jokes travel with the teens. There is no graphic sex scene, yet the dialogue is frank
Drugs / alcohol Home drug use, beer cans, a marijuana bong, and teens drinking or takin…
Home drug use, beer cans, a marijuana bong, and teens drinking or taking something from strangers all appear. Substance mess is part of why the kids are called at-risk
Self-harm / suicide A teen speaks about thinking of dying by suicide, and mental strain sit…
A teen speaks about thinking of dying by suicide, and mental strain sits inside family chaos. The film treats the pain seriously without showing a method
Child peril / abuse Murra and the other teens live with neglect, volatile adults, and risky…
Murra and the other teens live with neglect, volatile adults, and risky situations on the road. Human minors stay in clear emotional and physical jeopardy for long stretches
Bullying / discrimination Teens needle each other with cruel names and sexual digs that cut deep.…
Teens needle each other with cruel names and sexual digs that cut deep. Some of it is friendship friction, and some of it just hurts
Mental health Anger, trauma, and feeling worthless shape how the teens treat themselv…
Anger, trauma, and feeling worthless shape how the teens treat themselves and each other. Photography and friendship become small tools for coping, not a tidy cure
Flashing lights We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
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Talk after watching
- Murra carries a lot of hurt from home into the trip. What helps a young person feel safe enough to trust new people?
- The teens push boundaries with language, crushes, and risk. Where would you draw a line between freedom and looking after each other?
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Sweet As
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