"You're not a man of God," shouts Crispina (Eileen Walsh) when the secret relationship, forced on her by a priest, is revealed. As we have learned in high profile criminal cases, mortal sins committed by those with power or money generally get a lighter sentence imposed than that doled out to us common folk. Were it not for recent acknowledgments of sexual crimes by the Catholic Church, this film probably would not have been made, as it would be considered blasphemous. The film, however, focuses far more on the business end of the church and the moral dilemma of the worshipers than it does on sexual misconduct. The hypocrisy and double standards of morality speak louder than papal edicts.
Crispina is one of four young women who are declared sinners, for having children out of wedlock, being raped, or for being so beautiful that it's only a matter of time before she makes a man a sinner. Three of these women, Crispina, Margaret and Rose (Anne-Marie Duff and Dorothy Duffy), are sent to the Magdalene convent (so the title "The Magdalene Sisters") for rehabilitation by their families. They are to redeem themselves by performing rehabilitative work (actually slave labor) in the laundry, which is a cash cow for the Catholic sisters.
If they are lucky, one day they will be released back into the general population. If they are unlucky, they will grow old like Katy (Britta Smith) and lose the desire to do anything but serve the convent. This is not a film that is friendly to organized religion or the Catholic Church. Bernadette (Nora-Jane Noone), the fourth inmate of the asylum to round out our group, was sent to the convent because the boys were ogling her at her orphanage.
As the film opens, the music and gaiety at a wedding reception sets us up to think that a few young girls will have a spicy tale to tell one day. A cousin then rapes Margaret, and she is blamed and labeled a sinner. There is no doubt as to why she lost her virginity; there is not a question of the word "no" or what that means. Rose shamed her family by having a baby, and she was tricked into giving it up for adoption and then shipped off and given an appropriate sentence for a mortal sin. Crispina's baby was given to her sister and her contact was to see them from a distance of 200-feet, separated by a fence, as she hangs clothes to dry. In two years time she is never able to talk to her son nor does she even know his name.
Crispina is at the convent when Margaret, Bernadette and Rose arrive at the same time, much like new recruits going into the Army. A key difference from the military is that there is no predetermined separation date. Even when you are in jail, you usually have a target date of release. The convent would like to think of itself as heavenly but the reality is that it's hell on earth.
Neither the church nor a court demanded that these women live with the Magdalene Sisters. It seems that the practice of "get thee to a nunnery" (convent) was the order of the day. The young women were welcomed with open arms by the sisters, almost like Dracula enfolding a victim that will provide them with blood. If this film wasn't based upon a true story, in which four bright beautiful women suffered immensely, one might easily forget it. This may not be the best film of the year, but regardless of where it's ranked come December 31st, it will not be forgettable. Performances in the film are outstanding and when awards time comes around this film will probably be forgotten by many, because it touches so many hot buttons, in such a non exploitative way, that it's damning and silently controversial.
The fact that this occurred in the early 1960's, rather than the Middle Ages is indeed revealing. The fact that evidence proves children are still being abused and used as slaves, of all sorts, in parts of the world today is intolerable.
Mind control, as in a slave mentality, is in full evidence as one of the women, intent on escaping, finds an unlocked gate and a person to give her a ride. She is so disconnected to the outside world by this time, however, she feels more comfortable "in" rather than "out." There is no longer a choice between happy or unhappy.
Three of the four women eventually found an out and lived a "normal" life. Even though no one had a "happily ever after" existence and one woman died at the age of 24 in a mental institution, the film has its bright moments. One can't help but feel sadness because the vitality and personalities of these young women was altered permanently. In spite of the many emotions evoked here that George did not like, it was uplifting to understand the world we live in and our responsibility to be able to forgive those who have transgressed, or according to the church, have sinned. Individualism is essential to survival, spiritually and physically, especially when organizations and family let you down. You always have a choice. It's up to you to exercise it.
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