Hey folks, Harry here... we first heard about this film from Ravvy during his infiltration of the Venice Film Festival seemingly forever and a day ago. The film is finally making its way over to these shores and well... here's a brutal film that isn't quite up to the FLAVIA THE HERETIC standards of Nunsploitation, but rather... a far more dramatic turn. Here's Capone to tell you all about it...
Hey, Harry. Capone in Chicago with a brief discussions of an amazing film that is finally making its way to the U.S. after some very controversial festival screenings, particularly in Venice, where it ended up winning the Golden Lion. It also took major prizes at the Toronto and Newport Film Festivals. Prepare yourselves, all you freaks with nun fetishes, for THE MAGDALENE SISTERS...
It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen a film as starkly brutal and eye opening as director Peter Mullen’s slap in the face, THE MAGDALENE SISTERS. Mullen is probably best known for his acting work in films like THE CLAIM and MY NAME IS JOE, but here he proves he’s finally got what it takes to put together an amazingly honest look at the insufferable treatment of “fallen women” in Ireland up, beginning decades ago and continuing until the mid-1990s. Most of these women were unwed mothers (their babies snatched away almost from the womb by the church) who shame was so much that their families sent them to live with nuns and to act essentially as slaves in a laundry business. At the hands of these nuns, these women (some of which were sent there for no other reason than simply acting too independent and uppity) endured horrible indignities, mostly in the form of degrading verbal and physical abuse. The idea is that the biblical prostitute, Mary Magdalene, endured horrible pains in her life to be forgiven by God, and so too should these women.
The film, although not based on a particular true story, is certainly accurate in its portrayal of the lives of these women, some of whom entered these nightmares as teenagers and will stay there until the day they die. Mullen follows most carefully the plight of three such women who lived at the establishment in the late 1960s, two who were unwed mothers (Margaret and Rose), the other (Bernadette) an orphan who spent too much time talking to boys through the fence at the orphanage. The three arrive at the Magdalene convent on the same day, and quickly learn hard lessons about speaking and acting out of turn. The nun we grow to fear the most is Sister Bridget (the frightful Geraldine McEwan), whose temper turns on a dime and is fierce when disrespected. And saints preserve you if you try to escape.
THE MAGDALENE SISTERS is full of incredible performances. I was particularly impressed with Eileen Walsh’s portrayal of Crispina, the borderline simpleton who is abused by both the local priest and her fellow “inmates.” I also liked Nora-Jane Noone’s orphan, Bernadette, who feels particularly betrayed by all life has thrown at her. There isn’t a dull moment in this film, largely because you sit quietly waiting to see what offense (real or imagined) will send the sisters into a rage. Will simple whispering to another girl do it? Sometimes. Will talking after bedtime has started invoke their anger? Perhaps. Their behavior borders on pure torture and brainwashing. I realize for some of your more religious types, you may resent the anti-Catholic stance this film appears to take. But the fact is, these things really happened, and some of them happened recently. It’s not surprising that Amnesty International is sponsoring some screenings of this film, which opens in Chicago next week (I think) and will probably open near you very soon. There are images and behaviors in this movie that will haunt me for quite a while.
Capone
Do you Experience Flakey Dandruff, Tell me all about it!
