IMDb RATING
6.7/10
5.4K
YOUR RATING
An introspective young woman's life is upturned by the arrival of her maladjusted sister.An introspective young woman's life is upturned by the arrival of her maladjusted sister.An introspective young woman's life is upturned by the arrival of her maladjusted sister.
- Awards
- 3 wins & 8 nominations
Robyn Frank
- Ruth
- (as Robin Frank)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis picture was one of fifty Australian films selected for preservation as part of the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia's Kodak / Atlab Cinema Collection Restoration Project.
- Crazy creditsThe end credits first list Jane Campion as director and then there is a note 'For my sister.'
- SoundtracksWith Every Beat of My Heart
English lyrics by M. Vaughn
Music by Carlos Rigual (as Carlo Rodruigez Rigual)
Performed by Emma Jane Fowler
Featured review
quirky psychoanalysis of two sisters
Quite a dark film that seems to lack the catharsis (or uplifting tones) of the later Campion's films. The film concentrates on psychological problems of Kay, strange, detached young women which, seemingly calm and shy, is able to shamelessly steal a just-engaged man from his fiancee. Kay's life with the boyfriend, however, turns out to be far from happy. What does she want? We do not know that until her younger sister Dawn, aka Sweetie, appears on the scene almost halfway through the film. Dawn has apparently been a spoiled baby in the family. The father even now speaks about her "talents", although he too must see that, in reality, she is a mentally handicapped person whose intellectual and emotional development has been arrested at the level of a 4-year old. Sometimes she is charming, sometimes threatening, but, most importantly, she is uninhibited and free (among other things, free to act on her whims). With the arrival of Dawn, Kay's great animosity towards her sister is immediately apparent. Instead of help and compassion of a "normal" older sister she only offers criticism and open hatred. Little by little we find what Kay wants: she wants to be Dawn. She wants to lose her repressions, she wants to be loved, admired and always forgiven, no matter what she does. Deep psychological analysis of abnormal relations between sisters reminds me of some Ingmar Bergman's works although "Sweetie" does not have the nordic broodiness.
helpful•112
- peter-209
- Aug 6, 1999
- How long is Sweetie?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $938,065
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $20,403
- Jan 21, 1990
- Gross worldwide
- $938,562
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