Sweetie (1989)
There will not be a more extraordinary film than “Sweetie” in a long long time!
Director: Jane Campion · Writers: Jane Campion, Gerard Lee
The buttoned-down, superstitious Kay is attempting to lead a normal existence with her new boyfriend Louis. That’s until Sweetie, her rampaging, devil-may-care sister, returns home after an absence, exposing the rotten roots of their family and placing a strain on Kay and Louis’ relationship.
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Trailer
Director
Jane Campion
Cast
Geneviève Lemon
Dawn 'Sweetie' 
Karen Colston
Kay 
Tom Lycos
Louis 
Jon Darling
Gordon
Dorothy Barry
Flo
Andre Pataczek
Clayton
Michael Lake
Bob
Jean Hadgraft
Mrs. Schneller 
Paul Livingston
Teddy Schneller
Louise Fox
Cheryl
Ann Merchant
Paula
Robyn Frank
Ruth User Reviews (2)
When it starts off with the eccentric and shy Kay (Karen Colston) falling in love with the handsome Louis (Tom Lycos), Jane Campion's 1988 film SWEETIE promises a romantic comedy. When Kay's mentally ill sister Dawn (Genevieve Lemon) drops in, the film develops in a very different direction. Some element of comedy, very black humour, remains but overall the film is a family tragedy. The tragedy is that this disturbed young woman nicknamed "Sweetie" is simultaneously a victim of her own illness and an unwilling aggressor against her family, who feign love and acceptance but clearly would like to do without her. The strongest aspect of the film is Lemon's performance, one of the best screen portrayals of mental illness since Bergman's IN A GLASS DARKLY. Something I appreciate more on repeat viewing is that the background to this family drama is left ambiguous. That said, I would not lis…
I dislike this film so much. Mental illness is portrayed absolutely horribly in it. None of the characters are likeable whatsoever. A waste of time that I would recommend to no one unless you want to be very annoyed.
