Magdalene Sisters is one of the finest movies I have ever seen. The acting is superb. There are many strong, memorable, haunting, and grim scenes...and a few uplifting ones as well. It would not surprise me to discover that viewers will be overwhelmed by the disturbing content and the suggestion that this story is reality-based. The film portrays several pregnant teenage girls that, in heart wrenching scenes, are turned over by their families to a sadistic group of sweatshop mistresses masquerading as nuns. Their rehabilitation program? Working their fingers and souls to the bone in order to wash away their "sins," in a combination convent-laundry-concentration camp. We see glimpses of local people that look the other way and are complicit in their silence, perhaps to remind us of the worse sin of "good people doing nothing." Although this film depicts a specific theme and time not that long ago, it reminded me that in every era, despite our so called more evolved state, there continue to be untold numbers of exploited children and youth at the hands of grown ups, and always bystanders that look the other way.
Review of The Magdalene Sisters
The Magdalene Sisters
(2002)
Superbly acted and filmed, haunting portrayal of hell on earth.
3 August 2003