Sweet As

Winner of the NETPAC Award at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival and based on a true story, this coming-of-age drama follows Murra, a 15-year-old Indigenous teen with a troubled family life, as she discovers independence, companionship, and stability while on a photo safari for at-risk youth in Western Australia. —M.G.

Capturing someone else’s story—through words, a melody, or a camera lens—is the easy part. For young Murra, an Indigenous Australian girl with a troubled homelife, capturing her own is the real challenge. When she apathetically embarks on a youth retreat, accompanied by three other teens struggling with their own traumas and circumstances, Murra remains closed off…until the trip guide puts a camera in her hands. Tasked with exploring Australia’s awe-inspiring backcountry through the art of photography, Murra not only uncovers the pristine beauty of her ancestors’ land, but also dares to see herself and her future in a fresh light. A unique coming-of-age story beautifully shot against the backdrop of Australia’s natural wonders, SWEET AS brings adolescence into focus, no filter included. —A.B.