After a controversial video went viral in Rachel Perkins' play about systemic injustice and the complexity of political change, a local indigenous politician (Deborah Mailman) was summoned to the Senate by the Australian Prime Minister (Rachel Griffiths). After videos of violent attacks in Queensland went viral online, local indigenous politician Deborah Mailman, The Sapphires, TIFF'12 unexpectedly became the focus of national attention. Shortly thereafter, Australian Prime Minister Rachel Anderson (played by Rachel Griffiths and Six Feet Under) noticed this and offered Alex a Senate seat. Having a skeptical attitude towards political and public relations machinery, and fearing being seen as a "pet indigenous" of the party, Alex still believes that the Prime Minister's proposal is a rare opportunity to bring meaningful and lasting change to her community, as her left-wing brother puts it. Mailman portrays a person who is very familiar with being underestimated and fired, and beneath the surface, harbors a healthy undercurrent of disgust and anger. Director Rachel Perkins (Bran Nue Dae, TIFF'09) and screenwriter Pip Karmel (Me Myself I) skillfully handled the character lineup around the new senator and prime minister, each with their own political agenda and perspectives. Alex and Rachel are determined and determined women who work in a system that constantly undermines their agency and questions their abilities. Rachel's seasoned cynicism conflicts with Alex's refusal to accept the politically indifferent status quo. The two find themselves in an unstable alliance that could easily collapse, causing their house to collapse.
