CIFF

Sweet As

year
2022
country
Australia
runtime
87
captions
No
audio description
No
english subtitles
No
film contact
Sphere Films International

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. 

Community Partners

Center for Arts-Inspired Learning