Movie #22 Black Narcissus

A few years ago when I bought my first iPod I started listening to podcasts.  This was a relatively new medium at the time.  iTunes had a few hundred listed, but that was all.  At that time most of the content out there was pretty amateurish.  You could tell it was recorded by a few stoned dudes sitting in their mothers basement.  The podcast that stood out for me was called Filmspotting.  A play on the title of the Danny Boyle film Trainspotting.  Filmspotting was structured.  It had a weekly update with reviews of a current movie release, a contest where you could win a free DVD, and other content.  Including one of my favorite segments "Top 5 Lists".  They would pick a topic and list their Top 5 favorite films that involved that topic.  For example:  Top 5 Father & Son movies.  My Top 5 would include To Kill a Mocking Bird, Big Fish, The Empire Strikes Back, There Will be Blood and The Host.  Anyway, another feature on the show is there marathons.  Much like I did (stole the idea) with my Coen marathon the chose the work of a director or genre they are unfamiliar or under educated on and watch 5-7 films in that category.  Then the review each one and at the end of the marathon they announce their favorites in a variety of categories.  I have maintained a devoted listener.  I don't believe I have missed an episode in the past 5 years.

The current marathon is over the films of the directing duo Powell and Pressburger.  AKA "The Archers".  Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger were directors in the 40's.  They made broad, epic technicolor dramas.  They are considered by many to be some of the greatest directors of all time.

I heard 1940's, technicolor, and dramas and I thought this would be a marathon I would pass on.  Their first review consisted of them gushing for almost 20 minutes about the films and declaring Powell and Pressburger the find of the year for one of the Filmspotters.  Then the second film they reviewed was a movie I had heard of and I knew that it was regarded as an all time classic.  The Black Narcissus.  I decided to give it a try based upon their comments.  I was rewarded.

I should know better than to form opinions about films before I watch them.  I have been burnt by movies that I couldn't wait to see in theaters (I'm looking at you Burn After Reading) and I have been blown away by movies that I watched only because someone who's opinion on film I trust recommended it.  Even though I wasn't all that excited about it.  The best example of this is Night of the Hunter.  Once I get the Criterion Collection DVD of this for Christmas I will review (hint hint).

Black Narcissus is the story of a order of Nuns that attempt to start up a nunnery in the Himalayas.  The Sister Superior is Sister Clodagh, played pitch perfect by Deborah Kerr.  She is very young to be heading up her own nunnery and she quickly runs into problems with some of the other nuns in her order as well as the locals.  Including a woman grounds keeper that has mentally seen better days.  Another thorn in her side is the government agent Mr Dean.  He is nothing but rude to the nuns and doesn't want them around, but Sister Clodagh can't help but be reminded of the love that left her behind and drove her into the sisterhood.

Another problem comes from one of the other sisters.  She become rabid with jealousy and rage for the relationship forged between Clodagh and Mr Dean.  Her transformation is one of the most dramatic and believable in recent memory.

It is for sure that P&P are master craftsmen.  Most of this film is shot on the lot with painted backgrounds.  Somehow they are really able to set you in this location.  I was completely caught up in the film.  The performances are mesmerizing.  P&P were decades ahead of their time for camera angles and editing.  This films has very clearly been lifted from ever since it was first shown.

This is another Filmspotting discovery for me.  Now I have to go back and watch their first film of the marathon "The Life and Death of Mr. Blimp" and play along with the rest of the movies.  If you are interested in watching these movies they are on Netflix streaming and the Criterion Collection has released them on BluRay and DVD.  I would give Black Narcissus 4/5 stars.  If you are interested check out the link below for the trailer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZRzcLK1Ar0