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The Nun's Story (DVD, 1959)
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If you grew up in the Catholic Church of the 1950s, this movie will let you see what it was like to be one of those nuns that we loved and hated in our Catholic schools. Audrey Hepburn, in one of her finest Best Actress nominated roles, brings to life Sister Luke, who wants to go to what was the Belgian Congo in the late 1930's-early 1940's and nurse the natives. Her journey first of all to the convent as a novice is opposed by her father Dr. Van der Mal (Dean Jagger), but he gives in. She has to study nursing and learn how to be a perfect nun as well. With so much personality and love, it is hard for Sister Luke to be silent. And the ultimate in sacrifices is asked of her by the Mother Superior: to intentionally fail a biology test that will guarantee her quest to go to the Congo. She refuses to fail and passes 4th in the class. Thus, she is assigned to a mental hospital, where a clever patient (Collen Dewhurst) almost kills her. Finally, she gets to go to the Congo and works under a Dr. Fortunati there (Peter Finch). He falls in love with her but whether she loves him cannot be determined. She loves the Congo of course, but before too long she comes down with tuberculosis. She overcomes that with rest and care by Dr. Fortunati. But soon her mother superior orders her to return to Europe under the guise of accompanying a VIP but mainly because the order fears that she has fallen in love with Dr. Fortunati. The end of the movie has to do with the Nazi takeover of Belgium, where Sister Luke is now living. I won't tell you how it all ends, but be prepared for a surprise. This story was based on the novel by Kathryn Hulme, who lived with a former nun after she left the convent. Marie Louise Habets met Kathryn while they were both working for the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration after WW2. They lived together afterwards while this novel was written and eventually moved together to Hawaii. Audrey Hepburn met and consulted with Marie Louise while this movie was being made. And later, Marie Louise nursed Audrey after she fell from a horse while filming "The Unforgiven." We don't know what happened to Sister Luke after she left the convent, but we do know what happened to Marie Louise Habets. You can see pictures of her in Wickipedia under "The Nun's Story." This movie was nominated for 5 Oscars--Best Actress (Hepburn), Best Supporting Actress (Dame Edith Evans as Mother Emmanuel), Best Director (Fred Zinneman), Best Cinematography, Best Screenplay (Robert Anderson) and Best Picture. It won none. Ironically, there was little support in Hollywood to make this movie until Audrey Hepburn committed to do it. It became one of the biggest blockbusters of 1959.Read full review
Of course I love anything Audrey Hepburn has done, but she is exceptional in this realistic story of what a woman goes thru on her spiritual journey with God. She has the calling, she wants to help people as Jesus did, but she struggles with all the ridiculous rules she has to follow which have little to do with her calling but more to do with the Church's control over her. She is a devout Christian whose father was a doctor so she is very knowledgeable about medicine but not allowed to show her skills less she come across as being too proud. This is the constant struggle she has--the church's way v. God's way or what she feels is God's way. She finally realizes she will never fit in with church life but she can still be a devout Christian. It sustains your interest the whole movie.
America and the world will always remain in love with Audrey Hepburn. The actress in real life was a UN Ambassador of Goodwill to Africa and her personal efforts and sacrifices were seen up until the very week God decided He wanted her back in Heaven. "The Nun's Story" retroactively pays tribute to this and even the very scene where Audrey Hepburn as Sister Luke holds an African baby. This is later realized when in a real life photo, she holds and tries to comfort a starving African baby during the African famine of the 1980's and 1990's. She is truly missed but will continue bring joy to many whenever and wherever her movies are viewed and her face lights up the screen.
I purchased this DVD to play for my 91-year-old mother-in-law. I have this movie on VHS in my library and this is one of just a few titles I now own in both VHS and DVD format. My m-in-l doesn't have a VCR that works anymore. I have viewed this movie several times over the years and I still enjoy watching it. It's really hard to engage m-in-l with anything and she has said "I saw that movie years ago." Yeah, that's probably true; it was released in something like 1959. I don't know how true to life it is in the details of convent life, but I think it's possible there was at least some attention to detail in it. This is one of those movies "worth viewing more than once."
This movie goes through the life of one girl who's only ambition in life is to serve in Africa as a nursing nun. It shows all the dificulties that a nun must go through before making her final vows. Then it shows the humility that must be endured through the whole life as a nun. After watching this movie, it is a wonder that there are as many nuns as they actually have. After speaking with teachers that I had as a child, it was suprising as to how accurate the movie is in the life of a nun. I thorghly enjoyed this movie as did my grandchildren. They ought to make more movies today like these epic preformances.
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