Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic conflict, 2 Jan 2005
This wonderful movie evokes a great sense of time before WWII when the convent was a desirable destination for many young women in Catholic Europe. Hepburn was never lovelier or better and acts more with her eyes than many modern 'stars' can do with their entire bodies.The focus of the film is the eternal conflict between self and duty. It starts as Hepburn leaves the sheltered home of her Father where she has been substitute mother since her Mother's death, choosing the Church over home responsibilities to her Father's chagrin. It continues through the conflict of personal choice versus the teachings of the Church and hinges around a scene where she is asked to flunk an exam to show devotion to the Church. The central portion moves to Africa and injects sensuality in spades and Peter Finch glowers and exudes sex appeal enough to melt any wimple!! Sister Luke is not so much conflicted by his presence as ripped apart. Conflict again between old and new religions ends in tragedy. The later phase is at the beginning of the war where obedience to the Church clashes full pelt with her feelings of nationalism and family loyalty. Is the ending inevitable? The photography in this film is very good, almost worthy of Powell and Pressburger, especially in the scenes where the novices become nuns. The concept of the Church and being a nun may not speak as loudly to us in this time, but the theme of conflict, personal will versus the good of others, is eternal. A great Sunday afternoon film and a classic of that period.
|
|
|
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Transcendent!, 1 Jul 2007
This magnificent film of 1957 still shines in all its luminosity after 50 years. It reminds us of the heights to which Hollywood could rise in the old studio system, which invested its resources on quality: the actors, the director, the music, the costumes, and the splendid genuine locations, from the canals and bridges of Bruges and Antwerp to the sweeping expanse of the Congo river (The scenes at the leper colony, among many others, are fascinating.). "The Nun's Story" allows us to glimpse a slice of history of the 1930s, as it unfolds on two continents. It gives us a look back into a society, both sacred and secular, that World War II was to change irrevocably.
The superb performances of Audrey Hepburn, Peggy Ashcroft, Edith Evans, Mildred Natwick, and Peter Finch speak for themselves, and it would be superfluous of me to comment on them further.
I merely wonder how many of the hundreds of films now churned out in Hollywood every year (the millions of dollars spent making them; their celebrity actors; their special effects) will still shine as brightly as "The Nun's Story" 50 years from now?
Relatively few, I think!
|
|
|
14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The nun's story Reviewed, 22 Feb 2003
If you love Audrey Hepburn you will definately love this old sentimental, ethical, moraly challenging film. Set in Belgium, the film unfolds with the growing up of Audrey as sister Luke who is determined to become a nurse and work in the congo."Poverty, chastity, and obedience " the three rules a nun must live by. Unfortunately, Sister Luke is not in the mold. Her struggle to abide by the christian rule is so evident in the film. "At the end of the day you can cheat your sisters and yourself but you can never cheat God " Peter Finch plays the role of a doctor over in the congo and of course who could help and not fall for him.... Sister Luke is guilty of that too. War breaks out in Belgium and the film highlights the struggle of clerical as well as medical staff in the struggle not to take sides. This is one of my favourite films and I recomend it to anyone who enjoys a good teary session at home. "When I leave I will take you forever in my heart and in my thoughts." Christian
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
![The Nun's Story [DVD] [1959] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512073ABVGL._SL75_SS50_.jpg)
![The Nun's Story [1958] [DVD]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ZQjhutskL._SL75_SS50_.jpg)
![Two For The Road [DVD] [1966]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/510BTXB491L._SL75_SS50_.jpg)
![The Song Of Bernadette [DVD] [1943]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ZRC8N1GZL._SL75_SS50_.jpg)
![The Children's Hour [DVD] [1961]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51EDCV8T1HL._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
![Charade (Wide Screen) (DVD) [1963]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JPNKSAMXL._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
![War and Peace [DVD] [1956] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JB5VSA14L._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
![The Nun's Story [1958] [DVD]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ZQjhutskL._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
![The Unforgiven [DVD] [1959]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5170E3H5FZL._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
