1947 Review Blog
Black Narcissus
Grade: A- 07/30/2014
What better place to explore duty, repression, desire, hysteria, & sexuality than a remote convent high up in the Indian Himalayas? This is the setting for the gothic, psychodrama, 'Black Narcissus'. The film follows the torturous emotional journey of a group of Anglican nuns as they set up a convent among the ruins of an abandoned Himalayan harem. The Order is built on hard work & discipline. But the nuns soon find themselves increasingly distracted/disturbed by the howling winds of the Himalayas, the exotic environment, the beguiling amorality of the locals, health problems, haunting memories, as well as the presence of Mr. Dean; who cavorts about in shorts exposing his bare thighs. As the newly apointed leader, Sister Clodagh (Deborah Kerr) struggles to maintain this mission & sustain moral order. Given all of this, it's only a matter of time before adversity & temptation gradually draw the nuns away from their Christian vocation, and they descend into self-doubt, confusion, jealousy ... and madness. Great performances, awesome color cinematography for the time, fascinating use of sets/matte paintings to provide the illusion that the film was actually shot in India. For me, best film of 1947; a weak year, overall.
Grade: A- 07/30/2014
What better place to explore duty, repression, desire, hysteria, & sexuality than a remote convent high up in the Indian Himalayas? This is the setting for the gothic, psychodrama, 'Black Narcissus'. The film follows the torturous emotional journey of a group of Anglican nuns as they set up a convent among the ruins of an abandoned Himalayan harem. The Order is built on hard work & discipline. But the nuns soon find themselves increasingly distracted/disturbed by the howling winds of the Himalayas, the exotic environment, the beguiling amorality of the locals, health problems, haunting memories, as well as the presence of Mr. Dean; who cavorts about in shorts exposing his bare thighs. As the newly apointed leader, Sister Clodagh (Deborah Kerr) struggles to maintain this mission & sustain moral order. Given all of this, it's only a matter of time before adversity & temptation gradually draw the nuns away from their Christian vocation, and they descend into self-doubt, confusion, jealousy ... and madness. Great performances, awesome color cinematography for the time, fascinating use of sets/matte paintings to provide the illusion that the film was actually shot in India. For me, best film of 1947; a weak year, overall.