Sweetie
There will not be a more extraordinary film than “Sweetie” in a long long time!
1989 | 100m | English
Popularity: 2 (history)
| Director: | Jane Campion |
|---|---|
| Writer: | Jane Campion, Gerard Lee |
| Staring: |
| 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. | |
| Release Date: | Sep 28, 1989 |
|---|---|
| Director: | Jane Campion |
| Writer: | Jane Campion, Gerard Lee |
| Genres: | Comedy, Drama |
| Keywords | dysfunctional family, tree house, favorite sibling, sibling relationship, woman director |
| Production Companies | New South Wales Film & Television Office, New South Wales Film Corp., Arenafilm |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $0
Budget: $0 |
| Updates |
Updated: Feb 01, 2025 (Update) Entered: Apr 13, 2024 |
![Sweetie (1989) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD]](/extra_thumbs/o8JJdI-Yziw.jpg)
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Bronwyn Morgan | Sue |
| Sean Fennell | Boy clerk |
| Sean Callinan | Simboo |
| Emma Jane Fowler | Little Sweetie |
| Norm Galton | Notary |
| Warren Hensley | Man handshaker |
| Regina Heilmann | Girl |
| Charles Abbott | Meditation teacher |
| Diana Armer | Melony |
| Barbara Middleton | Clayton's mom |
| Irene Curtis | Mandy |
| Ken Porter | Lead Jackaroo |
| John F. Hughes | Jackaroo |
| Alan Close | Jackaroo |
| Marc Colombani | Jackaroo |
| Geoff Shera | Jackaroo |
| Andrew Traucki | Jackaroo |
| Norman Phillips | Nosey neighbor |
| Shirley Sheppard | Nosey neighbor |
| Ben Cochrane | Boy in tree |
| Kristoffer Pershouse | Boy in tree |
| Larry Brand | Sweetie's funeral |
| Cedric McLaughlan | Sweetie's funeral |
| Doug Ramsay | Sweetie's funeral |
| Bruce Currie | Man with a saw |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| Jane Campion | Screenplay, Casting, Director, Original Story |
| Gerard Lee | Screenplay |
| Chris Noonan | Thanks |
| Veronika Jenet | Editor |
| Peter Harris | Art Direction |
| Amanda Lovejoy | Costume Design |
| Howard Regner | Hairstylist |
| Martin Say | Assistant Art Director |
| Leo Sullivan | Sound Recordist |
| Melinda Trost | Wardrobe Assistant |
| Don Colantonio | Assistant Production Manager |
| Tina Andreef | Casting Assistant, Second Assistant Director |
| John Fretz | First Assistant Director |
| Peter Munro | Art Department Assistant |
| John Dennison | Foley Recordist, Sound Mixer, Sound Supervisor |
| Pamela Dunne | Sound Effects Editor |
| Sue Kerr | Boom Operator |
| Tony Vaccher | Sound Mixer, Sound Effects Editor |
| Bernard Ledger | Stunts |
| Jane Castle | Camera Operator |
| Michael Kelly | Clapper Loader |
| Phil Stainer | Grip |
| Jane Cole | First Assistant Editor |
| Billy MacKinnon | Script Editor |
| Peter Long | Title Designer |
| Charles Abbott | Thanks |
| Ken Cameron | Thanks |
| Hilary Linstead | Thanks |
| Sally Bongers | Director of Photography |
| Martin Armiger | Original Music Composer |
| Wendy Freeman | Makeup Artist |
| Jennifer Kernke | Assistant Art Director, Standby Property Master |
| Roger Cowland | Visual Effects |
| Nicole Sorby | Assistant Makeup Artist |
| Patricia L'Huede | Production Manager |
| Trudi Billsberry | Third Assistant Director |
| Mary Dennison | Sound Effects Editor |
| Liz Goldfinch | Dialogue Editor |
| Raj Oakley | Assistant Dialogue Editor |
| Richard Bladel | Assistant Grip |
| Jamie Egan | Gaffer |
| Regis Lansac | Still Photographer |
| Felicity Surtees | Focus Puller |
| Arthur Cambridge | Color Grading |
| Lynn-Maree Danzey | Continuity |
| Christopher Gill | Production Runner |
| Sam Thompson | Production Coordinator |
| Neil Armfield | Thanks |
| Colin Englert | Thanks |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| John Maynard | Producer |
| Billy MacKinnon | Co-Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person |
|---|
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 13 | 25 | 7 |
| 2024 | 5 | 15 | 29 | 7 |
| 2024 | 6 | 13 | 23 | 5 |
| 2024 | 7 | 11 | 16 | 6 |
| 2024 | 8 | 9 | 16 | 6 |
| 2024 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 4 |
| 2024 | 10 | 7 | 12 | 4 |
| 2024 | 11 | 9 | 24 | 4 |
| 2024 | 12 | 7 | 14 | 5 |
| 2025 | 1 | 7 | 13 | 5 |
| 2025 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Trending Position
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 el ... ement 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 list "Sweetie" among my favourite films: it is overall well-made and memorable but not quite at the level of effusive praise.
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. ...