The Magdalene Sisters
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The Magdalene Sisters
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Magdalene Sisters is a powerful but distressing drama set in 1960s Ireland with moments of abuse -- both physical and sexual -- within the Catholic church. The story centers around a group of "fallen" women who were considered to have sinned and were therefore sent to do penance in what have now been revealed as abusive workhouse environments. Catholicism is referenced throughout, with Bible excerpts frequently read aloud, and sin and shame referenced multiple times. Scenes involve humiliation and bullying, as well as intense violence, including being whipped with belts and having hair cut viciously from scalps. There are also scenes of rape, sexual abuse, and attempted suicide. Strong language includes "f---ing," "shite," and "bitch," as well as sexist terms such as "whore" and "slut." There are upsetting scenes involving a young mother being forced to give her baby up for adoption and a character being dragged to a psychological facility. Anorexia is mentioned in information that flashes up on the screen toward the end, as well as troubling statistics about the asylums running until the mid '90s and incarcerating an estimated 30,000 women in total. This is a powerful film with strong adult themes that would likely be distressing for younger viewers.
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What's the Story?
In THE MAGDALENE SISTERS, three teenage girls are sent to a Catholic "asylum" in 1960s Ireland, where they are expected to pay penance for their perceived sins. Here, they discover a brutal regime of exhausting work and dehumanizing punishment under the ever-watchful eyes of a cruel group of nuns. As they struggle to survive, both physically and mentally, their minds start to turn to escape.
Is It Any Good?
That such asylums existed in real life gives this powerful drama an even more sinister edge. The Magdalene Sisters invites viewers to contemplate what happened to young women in Ireland in the name of religion and respectability right up to the mid '90s -- and no doubt beyond. Writer and director Peter Mullan frames the drama in a matter-of-fact way that lets the strong performances hit hard without drawing away from the grim reality. It's a film with something important to say that balances anger, emotional intimacy and restraint to incredibly strong effect.
As the three central characters, Anne-Marie Duff, Nora-Jane Noone, and Dorothy Duffy are perfectly cast, giving sympathetic, complex performances, playing out internal conflicts and the trauma of the experience while refusing to be broken. As fellow "inmate" Crispina, Eileen Walsh is a stand-out, with a frenetic energy that heightens the tension and sense of psychological distress bubbling beneath the surface in every scene she's in. Geraldine McEwan is the stuff of nightmares as Sister Bridget, absolute venom in her words and looks, and a mask-like smile hungry with malevolence. It's definitely a film reliant on the impact of its believable performances, and none disappoint. The Magdalene Sisters is an intense watch, but one that allows its central characters a sense of hope and power, even amid the atrocities.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the institutional abuse shown in The Magdalene Sisters. What did you find most shocking? Why do you think such acts of abuse were able to take place for so long? What did the film suggest about the link between power, institution, and religion? Does knowing that such abuse took place in real life effect how you feel about the film?
Discuss the violence in the movie. Did it seem necessary to the overall story or did any of it seem gratuitous?
Talk about the strong language used. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
Movie Details
- In theaters: August 29, 2003
- On DVD or streaming: March 23, 2004
- Cast: Anne-Marie Duff, Dorothy Duffy, Nora-Jane Noone
- Director: Peter Mullan
- Studio: Miramax
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Friendship, History
- Run time: 114 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: violence/cruelty, nudity, sexual content and language
- Last updated: October 8, 2022
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