As I’ve mentioned in countless other Catholic-centric films, I’m not well-versed in that religion, and most of what I do know has come from the movies. Films like The Exorcist, The Two Popes, Conclave, and now The Nun’s Story have given me an impression, accurate or not, of what it is like to be attached in some way to Catholicism. Having just finished watching The Nun’s Story, I can say that, whether I agree with their faith or not, I can appreciate the dedication, the faith, and the sacrifices made by those who make the commitment to dedicate their lives entirely to the service of God. The Catholic Church is not something prominent where I live, I have never known nuns or priests personally and have barely even seen any in my travels, but that doesn’t mean I cannot respect and admire what it is they do.
I learned a great deal about how one becomes a nun from watching this film. Much of the first half of this film is dedicated to just that, showing us how a woman enters into this lifestyle and what she must forsake to make it permanent. We see all of this through the eyes of Gabrielle “Gaby” Van Der Mal (Audrey Hepburn). When the film opens, Gaby is preparing to enter a convent of nursing sisters in the late 1920s, hoping that she will be sent to serve in the Belgian Congo. Gaby has a strong medical background, being the daughter of a prominent Belgian surgeon, Hubert Van Der Mal (Dean Jagger), which will serve her well in such a posting.
After receiving her religious name, Sister Luke, she undergoes her postulancy and novitiate, which foreshadow the difficulties she will struggle with in her vow of obedience. Afterwards, she takes her first vows and is sent to the institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, where, after performing well in her classes, she is accused of the sin of pride by a fellow sister, who is weaker in her studies. The local superior suggests that she deliberately fail her oral exams to demonstrate her humility, but after agonizing over the choice, Sister Luke instead passes forth in her class of eighty.
When she reaches the Congo, though, she is disappointed when she discovers that she has been assigned to the segregated whites/European patient hospital rather than with the birthing natives. She puts her training to good use, though, becoming an indispensable nurse for Dr. Fortunati (Peter Finch). But it’s not long before news reaches them of the upcoming war, and when Sister Luke’s father is killed by the Nazis, she begins to really question her vows, especially the one about forgiving thine enemy.
Audrey Hepburn was known for being a fashion icon, the very model of modern dress. Films such as Funny Face, Charade, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s showcased that to great effect. But she was more than just a pretty face wearing the latest in chic fashion; she really could act and had a way of transforming herself just in her manner alone that was often amazing to witness. Look at her in the opening scenes of Sabrina and compare that to the second half, and it is hard to believe there aren’t years between those scenes. She sold the callowness of youth and later the elegance of having spent time abroad in Paris. In The Nun’s Story, she has to convey the struggles of a woman of solid character who is in constant doubt of herself. She has conviction and faith, but she doesn’t feel that she lives up to the rigid expectations of being a nun.
The whole first third of this film seems to emphasize just how difficult it is to be a nun, lest you think a life of quiet contemplation is all there is to it. It’s about sacrifice, giving up family and friends, everything you love in life in the service of God. It can also be dangerous, too. When Sister Luke takes her first assignment working in a Belgian asylum, she lets her guard down for a second and gets assaulted, barely escaping with her life. Later, in the Congo, she witnesses an assault on another nun who is killed from repeated blows to the head. She also contracts tuberculosis (TB), partially from overworking herself, and nearly dies. Normally, when a nun in the Congo gets TB, they are sent back to Europe, but Dr. Fortunati has come to rely on her too much, and he finds a way to keep her there, treating her until she recovers.
Sister Luke comes to realize that her personal struggles may never go away, especially, in the way she sees it, if she succeeds in one area, she fails in another just from taking pride in her success. It’s a never-ending battle that is wearing her down. Eventually, the immense evil in the world strikes at her biggest weakness, her family. With a brother in the war and her father being killed by the Nazis, she can’t find forgiveness in her heart, and that is something all nuns are expected to be able to do. It’s heartbreaking to see her accept that she cannot continue in the order, knowing that so few in her situation would honestly be able to close that part of themselves off so completely and feel nothing at such a loss.
The Nun’s Story was being optioned for filming before it was even published. At the time it was published, there were concerns that the story would dissuade people from wanting to join the ranks of the nuns. Its frank depiction of the order and what could be looked at as a cold view on individuality could be seen as a negative viewpoint of the sisterhood. The film handles these things delicately, though, while not shying away from the realities of such a dedication to the faith and to service. We also see a bit of hypocrisy amongst the ranks as a sister calls out Sister Luke for the sin of pride when she, herself, is guilty of the sin of envy. It is a fascinating view of piety and the strive for perfection that never truly can be achieved.
This may not be Audrey Hepburn’s best movie, but it is amongst the best of her performances. Her drive, her convictions, and her doubts are all at play throughout the film. We see it on her face and in the few moments where she lets her personality beat out her training, such as when Dr. Fortunati catches her looking at her own reflection in a glass window. He teases her over such a discretion, but he is also sad for her that even such a minor thing as this is forbidden to her. This film asks us if we would have the discipline and conviction to stay the course during hard times. Sister Luke chooses not to in the end, and, honestly, for her, this is probably the right route. Some may not see it that way and look at the ending of this film as a tragedy. She may look at it that way, too, but she was rarely truly happy underneath her vows, and so I see it as a rebirth of sorts as she walks out of the church to rejoin the world, no longer bound by her vows. The film doesn’t tell us what happens after that, nor should it. We’re better off imagining what she will be walking into instead.
Academy Award Nominations:
Best Picture: Henry Blanke
Best Director: Fred Zinnemann
Best Actress: Audrey Hepburn
Best Adapted Screenplay: Robert Anderson
Best Cinematography: Franz Planer
Best Film Editing: Walter A. Thompson
Best Original Score: Franz Waxman
Best Sound: George Groves
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Release Date: June 18, 1959
Running Time: 152 Minutes
Not Rated
Starring: Audrey Hepburn, Peter Finch, Edith Evans, Peggy Ashcroft, and Dean Jagger
Directed by: Fred Zinnemann
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