In 1968 Australia, two aboriginal sisters Gail and Cynthia head into town to enter in a talent contest, while their third sister Julie is not allowed to go because she has a child and is too young, despite having the strongest voice of the three, until she convinces a her neighbour to drive her into town. The contest is hosted by an irresponsible, alcoholic, Irish talent scout, Dave Lovelace. The girls lose the talent contest due to their race, even with Julie coming in.
As Dave is about to leave his job, Julie hands him a flyer, showing that the troops need singers for Vietnam. Soon, Dave is able to get the girls an audition in Melbourne. Back at their place, the girls' parents and grandmother allow Dave to take the girls to the audition, as long as they bring their white cousin Kay, who had been living in Melbourne as a white woman for ten years. She rejects the proposal of joining them, however she later changes her mind, after getting tired of the white person's lifestyle, and meets up with the girls. After days of practicing/training their moves and voices, they are nearly ready until Julie gives Cynthia a letter from her fiancé that he is going to call off their wedding and be with someone else. Despite that, they manage to audition very well and Kay comes up with the group's name, The Sapphires, after observing at Cynthia's engagement ring.
Afterwards they are transported to a war-torn Vietnam, The Sapphires are a success with the troops, but the infighting among the group threatens to tear the group apart, Gail acts as the group’s aggressive "mama bear". Meanwhile, Kay struggles with her multi-ethnic identity because 10 years earlier, she was stolen by the feds because her light skin made her a good candidate for assimilation into white culture. Also, Julie is proven to be the group's best voice with a chance at a singing career. Dave and Gail begin a romance, but his irresponsible behaviour pushes Gail’s patience to the limit.
Later, Dave and Gail talk before Dave hands her a letter, telling her to open it later and are about to kiss when the American soldiers are attacked and Dave disappears in the chaos and gets shot. At a home, Gail reads Dave's letter and realizes he wanted to propose to her, but it was her choice. The girls band together and finish their tour. Dave has survived and Gail is reunited with him in a Vietnam hospital. The Sapphires return to Australia, Gail and Dave announce to the family that they plan to marry. In the end, The Sapphires give a joyous performance for their friends and family in the yard of their home.
As Dave is about to leave his job, Julie hands him a flyer, showing that the troops need singers for Vietnam. Soon, Dave is able to get the girls an audition in Melbourne. Back at their place, the girls' parents and grandmother allow Dave to take the girls to the audition, as long as they bring their white cousin Kay, who had been living in Melbourne as a white woman for ten years. She rejects the proposal of joining them, however she later changes her mind, after getting tired of the white person's lifestyle, and meets up with the girls. After days of practicing/training their moves and voices, they are nearly ready until Julie gives Cynthia a letter from her fiancé that he is going to call off their wedding and be with someone else. Despite that, they manage to audition very well and Kay comes up with the group's name, The Sapphires, after observing at Cynthia's engagement ring.
Afterwards they are transported to a war-torn Vietnam, The Sapphires are a success with the troops, but the infighting among the group threatens to tear the group apart, Gail acts as the group’s aggressive "mama bear". Meanwhile, Kay struggles with her multi-ethnic identity because 10 years earlier, she was stolen by the feds because her light skin made her a good candidate for assimilation into white culture. Also, Julie is proven to be the group's best voice with a chance at a singing career. Dave and Gail begin a romance, but his irresponsible behaviour pushes Gail’s patience to the limit.
Later, Dave and Gail talk before Dave hands her a letter, telling her to open it later and are about to kiss when the American soldiers are attacked and Dave disappears in the chaos and gets shot. At a home, Gail reads Dave's letter and realizes he wanted to propose to her, but it was her choice. The girls band together and finish their tour. Dave has survived and Gail is reunited with him in a Vietnam hospital. The Sapphires return to Australia, Gail and Dave announce to the family that they plan to marry. In the end, The Sapphires give a joyous performance for their friends and family in the yard of their home.