Radiance

This first feature, adapted by Louis Nowra from his own play, reunites three estranged Aboriginal sisters for their mother's funeral, and travels a somewhat familiar road as it explores the women's similarities and differences, hopes and memories, tensions and reconciliations. But the performances are energetic, witty and likeable; the revelations, while specifically reflecting on certain aspects of the Aboriginal experience, are sufficiently frequent and dramatic to grab and hold the attention; and the director does manage to offset the staginess by vivid images and sharp editing.