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Magdalene Sisters, The

Starring:

Eileen Walsh | Geraldine McEwan

Director:

Peter Mullan

Genres:

Drama | Irish

Languages:

English

Reviews:

3 reviews

Set in Ireland during the 1960s, the film follows the fortunes of three young women sent to work and live in the same Magdalene Laundry in 1964. Patricia (Dorothy Duffy) has had a baby out of wedlock; Margaret (Ann-Marie Duff) is the victim of a rape at a family wedding; and Bernadette (Nora-Jane Noone), well Bernadette is put away simply for flirting with the local boys. When they arrive at the Magdalene convent, they effectively become prisoners of a grim regime, presided over by a ferocious Mother Superior. The Magdalene Sisters is a tough and uncompromising movie experience, not just because these places existed until recent times, but because the director spares no punches in showing the brutality of the girls' existence. At the same time, however, it's also a superb piece of filmmaking. The three leading girls deliver terrific performances with Galway newcomer Nora-Jane Noone an absolute standout. Also impressive is Cork actress Eileen Walsh as Crispina, a big-hearted but simple girl struggling to retain her sanity in such an oppressive environment. Veteran actress Geraldine McEwan plays the hardline Mother Superior with undisguised relish and there's a cameo appearance from Mullan himself as the father of one of the girls. The Magdalene Sisters is an extraordinary film featuring extraordinary performances from a largely unknown cast. It's one film you're not likely to forget in a hurry.