Sweet As Feels Good @TIFF2022

Some films are sour and some are sweet. But not all films have to be heavy subjects that are discussed heavily over the water cooler. It is also a rare thing nowadays to have a film leave you with such a good feeling. It used to be so common back in the day. Now we question what has led cinema to become such a downer in recent years.

Director Jub Clerc is one that has not aligned with this trend with a very personal film of hers. Sweet As which received the NETPAC award at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival was inspired by Clerc’s journey as a filmmaker. With so many films at TIFF this year that centers around filmmaking, Clerc’s story is one that should not be missed.

Shantae Barnes-Cowan plays Murra who is experiencing a less than fulfilling tweenhood. Her mother, played by Ngaire Pigram, is still a heavy partyer and neglectful. Murra is at a point in her life where she needs to express and find herself. With her environment not being able to support this growth, her uncle, played by Marc Coles Smith, helps her out. He signs her up for a week-long excursion to the countryside of Western Australia. But this includes going along with some other troubled youth who all have their own inner demons that they have to face during this pivotal time in their lives.

A camera for everyone

Their excursion is led by Mitch, played by Tasma Walton, who tries to teach each and every one of them about responsibility, accountability, friendship and family. She gives each of them a camera to use for them to take photos of the Pilbara region of Australia. It gives them an opportunity to express themselves. Overall, the whole excursion lets them forget about all the burdening problems they face at such a young age. More importantly to accept their troubles and explore other feelings and emotions in life. This includes both love and trust which they all have had problems finding.

Sweet As is such an interesting film from the standpoint of Jub Clerc. She wanted the protagonist to represent her so he chose someone who was Indigenous. Clerc being a Nyul Nyul, Yawuru woman from the Kimberley Region felt that this decision was necessary and rare to see in film. This is a true coming-of-age story but it is done in such a beautiful backdrop that you think nothing can go wrong.

But you still have tweens who are growing up finding themselves in troubling situations. It does not matter if the location is rich or poor, the young are always longing to find themselves and fit in. It is something that we all as grown-ups tend to forget how important this is. For those who are parents a point in a child’s life that we should never ever neglect.

FERNTV spoke to Jub Clerc about her film Sweet As in our video interview below