10 Overlooked First Films By Great Directors
9. Sweetie - Jane Campion
The only woman to date to be nominated for two Best Director Oscars, Jane Campion is, quite simply, a legend.
Her 1993 movie The Piano is a heart-wrenching period piece about a young woman sold into marriage by her father. Then, in 2021, came The Power of the Dog, the beautifully sprawling Western that challenged audiences to dislike Benedict Cumberbatch.
Campion got started in her native New Zealand with a short film called Peel, which won the Short Film Palm d'Or at Cannes. She followed this up with her feature length debut Sweetie in 1989.
Sweetie is about a young woman who struggles with family, romance, and life itself. So, basically everyone in their twenties.
The titular Sweetie is played by an actor named Geneviève Lemon, which should have won this film an award on its own. Excellent name withstanding, the movie also received praise for its twisted view of family life and unconventional presentation.
Being a New Zealand indie film, this movie did not create much of a splash when it first arrived. However, if you like a bit of Jane Campion, then you might have a sweet tooth for Sweetie.