Girls, I am telling you, you have got to see "Philomena," not only for the array of brilliant performances, but its abiding message, as well as contrasting depictions of Catholic mythology. And for Barbara Jefford, as evil nun Sister Hildegarde and her big scene with Judi Dench, the most spectacular clash of catholic mythos since Gladys Cooper and Jennifer Jones in "The Song Of Bernadette."
Judi plays Philomena Lee, a senior citizen, retired nurse, who had an illegitimate son, when she was 16, was placed in a Magdalene-like convent run by Evil Nun Sister Hildegarde. Now, fifty years later, she is searching for that son, who was taken from her, not by choice. Her search brings her into contact with journalist Martin Sixsmith (wonderfully played by Steve Coogan!!!). In the early scenes, Sophie Kennedy Clark is remarkably touching and moving as young Philomena. This movie will make it clear, especially to those on here who are non-Catholic, why I am always gong on about the bodies of Cathokics being pain wracked from stone floors! The pain in this film makes stoned floors pale by comparison! They are just the beginning.
Sister Hildegarde, played by Barbara Jefford, is what, in my day was called a REAL nun. I was shocked, in her big scene, to see her wearing a habit that shows her hair, but, then, fifty years have passed, so maybe this was a concession to changing times. In MY day, darlings--
1. Real Nuns covered their entire bodies. You only saw their
hands, usually clutching the rosary, nothing else. And they did
not have hair; they chopped it off.
2 Real Nuns had no bodily orifices, so they did not go to
the bathroom, or anything else.
3.Real Nuns bathed--they HAD to stay clean--but they
did so surreptitiously, without being naked!!!!!!!!!!!
4. Real Nuns slept in their garments on a bed of nails,
at night, keeping one eye open all night, while staring
at something tempting, like a peach, in order to
openly resist temptation.
I am not kidding, darlings, this was the kind of stuff I was raised on. But, this was also Pre- Vatican II Catholicism. By the time of the mid to late Sixties, what with Julie Andrews and Rosalind Russell, and later Sally Field, nuns had been made over.
I don't want to reveal too much of Philomena's findings, except to say things end on a satisfying note. The message of forgiveness, where Judi Dench forgives Barbara Jefford, to her face, sits well with Catholicism today, and I am sure, if she saw the film Sister Camille D'Areienzo would have approved of the scene. As for me, I admired it, because I know that Judi Dench's Philomena was a better person than I. Had I been in her shoes, I would have walked up to that evil bitch, Sister Hildegarde, and smacked her across the face!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just look at this ugly thing, darlings! She deserves to be smacked and thrown into a pit of Hell!
But a great acting job by Barbara Jefford!
You have to see this film, darlings! And Sister Camille, if you have, I'd love to hear your thoughts on here. If not, I highly recommend it!
These nuns would have been a big hit at the Salem Witchcraft Trials!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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