Mauboy shines at Sapphires first glimpse

NATIONAL: Jessica Mauboy has played the red carpet jewel for the screening of new Australian film The Sapphires at the Cannes Film Festival.

In a figure-hugging, silver sequined dress, the 22-year-old singer sparkled alongside director Wayne Blair and her co-stars as she entered a packed cinema for Saturday night’s premiere.

Festival commentators at Cannes have described The Sapphires as a “feel-good drama” and a “comedy” and on Saturday night an audience crammed with critics gave it a long standing ovation.

“It’s about these four Aboriginal women from Australia in 1968. They go to Vietnam and they sing soul music for the American troops,” Blair said of his film before the screening.

“Based on a true story that happened in Australia when Aboriginal people weren’t even counted on the Census, these four people from country Victoria get picked up by this white Irish guy.

“It’s a story that in 100 minutes starts at a reserve or mission in Australia, (then) we go to Saigon and come back.”

Standing alongside Mauboy to complete the foursome for Australia’s version of The Supremes are Deborah Mailman, Shari Sebbens and Miranda Tapsell.

The starlets were joined on Saturday night by male co-stars Chris O’Dowd and Tory Kittles.

The Sapphires, which is not in competition at Cannes, is to be released in Australia on August 9.

AAP