A Nun's Story

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meltzerboy

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Did anyone see the film “A Nun’s Story”? It was on TCM last night and I saw it again for the second or third time. What a great movie, and the acting is superb: Audrey Hepburn in the lead, with Peter Finch, Dame Edith Evans, and Peggy Ashcroft. I liked the symbolism of the ending with the door opened. The one criticism I have is the scene in which the nuns in the Congo are teaching the locals how to properly bathe their children, as if these people do not already know how to care for their own children. I also wonder how true to life the training to become a nun is as depicted in the film. Any thoughts about the movie?
 
meltzerboy said:
Did anyone see the film “A Nun’s Story”? It was on TCM last night and I saw it again for the second or third time. What a great movie, and the acting is superb: Audrey Hepburn in the lead, with Peter Finch, Dame Edith Evans, and Peggy Ashcroft. I liked the symbolism of the ending with the door opened. The one criticism I have is the scene in which the nuns in the Congo are teaching the locals how to properly bathe their children, as if these people do not already know how to care for their own children. I also wonder how true to life the training to become a nun is as depicted in the film. Any thoughts about the movie?
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It is probably true that religious missionaries at the time did try to impose European standards of hygiene, childcare, etc, on the people they were missionizing to.

Also, the movie is set 70 years ago, and the training for entry into religious communities has no doubt changed substantially since then.

ICXC NIKA
 
The movie came out in the '60’s. It was a great movie at the time. Yes, I think religious life was pretty tough at the time. When Vat. 11 came out nuns left in swarms. The had new found freedoms that were not really interpreted well at the time. Religious life has changed a lot since then. There are only a few orders that are growing at this time and so many orders do not have young aspirants to carry on the work of the Church.
 
I also saw it - have seen it several times before. I was confused about the strictness of the orders and rules the nuns had to endure. I have no idea if that is the way it is but it seems rather archaic. But who am I to judge - perhaps that is the way to heaven…I have no idea how it is or what it should be.
 
I like the story for the very reason that it makes people look at another time and another way of being, how the lead character struggles with issues of ego rather than indulges in her own brilliance. It kind of goes against the contemporary grain.

It also makes me think about humility versus subservience. And for women in a convent that might have been more of a challenge to discern, based on how they were treated at home.
 
I know TCM has been showing the movie a lot over the summer.
I am an audrey hepburn fan so I have tried to watch it but have yet to see the movie in its entirety. I believe she leaves her religious order at the end but I don’t know how she reached her decision.

I would like to read the book. I had seriously thought of being a nun when I was a teenager. If I had seen this movie I probably would have
changed my mind because of how strict they were.
But I still decided against it.
 
7_Sorrows said:
I know TCM has been showing the movie a lot over the summer.
I am an audrey hepburn fan so I have tried to watch it but have yet to see the movie in its entirety. I believe she leaves her religious order at the end but I don’t know how she reached her decision.

I would like to read the book. I had seriously thought of being a nun when I was a teenager. If I had seen this movie I probably would have
changed my mind because of how strict they were.
But I still decided against it.
Click to expand...
Since you are an Audrey Hepburn fan, as I am, you should really try to see the whole movie. It is one of Hepburn’s finest roles. And since you decided not to become a nun anyhow, you have nothing to fear now!
 
Auntie_A said:
I like the story for the very reason that it makes people look at another time and another way of being, how the lead character struggles with issues of ego rather than indulges in her own brilliance. It kind of goes against the contemporary grain.

It also makes me think about humility versus subservience. And for women in a convent that might have been more of a challenge to discern, based on how they were treated at home.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the very insightful comment.
 
marycchristian said:
I also saw it - have seen it several times before. I was confused about the strictness of the orders and rules the nuns had to endure. I have no idea if that is the way it is but it seems rather archaic. But who am I to judge - perhaps that is the way to heaven…I have no idea how it is or what it should be.
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That’s what I was curious about too.
 
mebcb said:
The movie came out in the '60’s. It was a great movie at the time. Yes, I think religious life was pretty tough at the time. When Vat. 11 came out nuns left in swarms. The had new found freedoms that were not really interpreted well at the time. Religious life has changed a lot since then. There are only a few orders that are growing at this time and so many orders do not have young aspirants to carry on the work of the Church.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the interesting information.
 
GEddie said:
It is probably true that religious missionaries at the time did try to impose European standards of hygiene, childcare, etc, on the people they were missionizing to.

Also, the movie is set 70 years ago, and the training for entry into religious communities has no doubt changed substantially since then.

ICXC NIKA
Click to expand...
I suppose the training has become somewhat less rigorous in keeping with the change in culture. Of course certain fundamental elements probably will never change.
 
meltzerboy said:
Since you are an Audrey Hepburn fan, as I am, you should really try to see the whole movie. It is one of Hepburn’s finest roles. And since you decided not to become a nun anyhow, you have nothing to fear now!
Click to expand...
I know. The next time it comes on and I might not be able to see the whole movie I am just going to record it. Hopefully I will get to see it all the next time it is on.
 
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