Review of Black Narcissus (1947) by Rob S — 25 Jul 2015
This film tries way too hard to dramatize a situation that I do not find that dramatic in the first place: a nun's struggle to suppress her sexual desires. At least that's one of the two things in this film that can pass as dramatic: that and the natives of the village struggling with a sickness that is going around.
The climax of the film has nothing to do with the latter, and is heavily invested in the idea that one of the nuns is choosing to leave this group of nuns because she can't suppress her sexuality. I say good for her, making her own decisions. Why does she NEED to stay, why must the other Sisters feel obligated to "save" her? Maybe that is just my view on religion though - I never liked the idea of imposing your religious beliefs or practices on others since religion is a faith, not a certainty.
The rest of the movie is extremely slow, focusing on the Sisters' process of creating a school for the children of the community they visit. This film looks good aesthetically, but it tries too much to dramatize something that I do not find dramatic.
This review of Black Narcissus (1947) was written by Rob S on 25 Jul 2015.
Black Narcissus has generally received very positive reviews.
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