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August 26, 2003

Nasty Nuns of the 1960's

As a partial result of me refusing to spend $9.50 to see Pirates of the Caribbean, Cheesebus and I spent Sunday evening watching The Magdalene Sisters at the Cobble Hill Cinemas.

The film (or fil-lim, as those nutty Irish say it) takes place in Ireland in the mid-1960's and centers around the Magdalene Asylum, an institution for "wayward" girls and women. Run by incredibly disturbing Roman Catholic nuns, the asylum is basically a work camp where women were sent to "repent"...meaning that they were basically overworked, abused, and humiliated (in a variety of ways) for an indefinite period of time-- or even a lifetime.

The film is intense and convincing. It's also a real kick in the ass to the Roman Catholic Church. After seeing it, I now understand why the reviews I'd read listed it as "controversial."

If you've ever had a slight fear of nuns, don't see this film. I thought it was a great movie, however I've had nightmares two nights in a row because of it. I think that the New Yorker puts my reaction best:

You come away from the movie not just convinced but cowed.

Posted by callalillie at August 26, 2003 8:38 AM |