The Nun's Story

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The Nun's Story

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The Nun's Story

Audrey Hepburn, Barbara O'Neil, Beatrice Straight, Colleen Dewhurst, Dean Jagger

Audrey Hepburn stars in The Nun's Story as Sister Luke, postulant of a Belgian order of nuns. Though frequently disillusioned in her efforts to spread good will -- at one point she is nearly killed by...( read more  read more... ) a mental patient (Colleen Dewhurst) -- Sister Luke perseveres. Sent as a nurse to the Belgian Congo, an assignment she'd been hoping for, Sister Luke is disappointed to learn that she will not be ministering to the natives but to European patients. Through the example of no-nonsense chief surgeon Peter Finch, the nun sheds her idealism and becomes a diligent worker -- so much so that she contracts tuberculosis. Upon the outbreak of World War II, Sister Luke tries to honor the edicts of her order and not take sides, but this becomes impossible when her father (Dean Jagger) is killed by the Nazis. Realizing that she cannot remain true to her vows, Sister Luke leaves the order and returns to civilian life. The Nun's Story ends with a long, silent sequence in which Sister Luke divests herself of her religious robes, dons street garb, and walks out to an uncertain future. There is no background music: director Fred Zinnemann decided that triumphant music would indicate that Sister Luke's decision was the right one, while tragic music would suggest that she is doing wrong. Rather than make an editorial comment, the director decided against music, allowing the audience members to fill in the blanks themselves. The Nun's Story is based on the autobiographical book by Kathryn Hulme, whose depiction of convent life was a lot harsher and more judgmental than anything seen in the film.~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Id: 10903119

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The Nun's Story Recent Reviews
  • sainttom93
    March 1, 2008
    sainttom93
    Having been raised in a Catholic School, this paints a pretty accurate pic of nuns -- I'm sorry she left, because she had more common sense than all the others
  • dreamfaeries
    December 12, 2006
    dreamfaeries
    So very long, but it was alright besides.
  • technada
    July 26, 2009
    technada
    I'm not christian but i like this movie and the struggle in nun's life.
  • phaleg
    July 16, 2009
    phaleg
    un poco larga.. pero hermosa y simbolica pelicula..
  • steve1955
    June 19, 2009
    steve1955
    Fantastic movie of convent life as it used to be
  • terris85017
    June 10, 2009
    terris85017
    (1959 Director: Fred Zinnemann) Excellent role for Audrey Hepburn who won a BAFTA award for her portrayal of Sister Luke, daughter of a famous surgeon. Sister Luke just shortly prior to the start of World War II travels to Africa and becomes the surgical nurse assisting their Su...( read more)rgeon (Peter Finch-who won a BAFTA Best Actor nomination) whom she meets while assigned to a convent/hospital in the Congo Republic. Sister Luke replaces a nun who contracted tuberculosis. No antibiotics yet (pre WW II) so that nun was forced to return to Belgium, a better climate to improve her chances against TB. During her stay in the Congo, Sister Luke also contracts tuberculosis, but through the support and tenderness of the Congonese and her hospital sheovercomes it. The selfless devotion of those in her Catholic Order are admirable.

    This film is a snapshot of an earlier time period portrayed convincingly by all. The film received nominations in 1960 for Academy Awards for best cinematography, best sound, best writing adapted screenplay and Golden Globe nominations.
  • headsink
    March 30, 2009
    headsink
    This movie showed Audey's talent. She was one of the best potrayal of nun. This story revolves around the conflict of the heart, between the interest of the church and the common good. The movie wasn't so explicit yet it does argue the church in way was revolutionary in its time ...( read more)for a movie.
  • placeinthesun455
    January 19, 2009
    placeinthesun455
    talk about your religious epics...not quite as grandiose as certain Charlton Heston projects from the same period, but equally as engaging and detail-oriented. even as long as this film was, I thought the character development could have been a little bit stronger. like many cl...( read more)assic religious pieces, the story and message of this film is both timeless and sorely lacking in cinema today. loved Hepburn as always, and it was also kind of fun seeing her getting back to her Belgian roots.
  • Soundsofmadness
    December 22, 2008
    Soundsofmadness
    No thankyou - Not interested.
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