Sweetie (1989)

Australian flick Sweetie (1989) is a searing portrait of dysfunctional family life centered around the relationship of two sisters, Sweetie (Geneviève Lemon) and Kay (Karen Colston). The shy and superstitious Kay embarks on a relationship with her crush, Louis (Tom Lycos), after consulting with a fortuneteller. The relationship never soars, and thing get more complicated when the emotionally unstable Sweetie comes to town. Through family interactions we learn that the parents’ rose-tinted outlook on Sweetie’s serious psychological condition (she had previously been institutionalized and yet they simply think of her as creative or whimsical) had profound affects on Kay’s emotional development as a child. The, we’ll just say it, insanely depressing story is told with grace and a pinch of humor, but most importantly gives us some amazing looks at Tom Lycos in the buff! In addition to a bulging beach scene, Sweetie sweetens the pot when it shows some full frontal dong on the lean and gorgeous Aussie! Sweet!