Sweetie (1989)

Directed by Jane Campion. Starring Karen Colston, Tom Lycos, Geneviève Lemon, Jon Darlin, Dorothy Barry, Michael Lake. [R]

Aussie family dysfunction seen largely through the eyes of sulky, credulous Kay (Colston), and directed toward her delusional headcase sister, “Sweetie” (Lemon). A provincial drama as tenacious as it is pugnacious, operating on an offbeat wavelength, studded with touches of fable-like hyperreality and bleak, brittle humor, and dealing with dark and difficult subjects without ever wallowing in despair. Flawed, but also so fresh and unapologetic that it’s hard to shake, anchored by the polar opposite forces of nature at the center. Seems to be an indictment of traditional family discipline and control, yet refuses to transform the titular self-absorbed hellion into some sort of outlandishly heroic soul. Campion’s feature film directorial debut.

78/100