Plot: What’s it about?
Rose (Dorothy Duffy) is a young woman in trouble, as she is unmarried and has just given birth to a child. Margaret (Anne-Marie Duff) was raped her own cousin and she refused to remain silent, which brought on her troubles. Bernadette (Nora-Jane Noone) was seen flirting with boys on several occasions, though she never acted on her teases. These three young women have all been involved in behavior that is considered sinful, even in the case of Margaret, who was raped and did nothing wrong in the least. As a result, the three are handed over to one of the Magdalene Laundries, where hard work and reformation await. At this institution, the women have to work all the time and no compensation is given, nor is the sentence known. So some of the women could be held for the rest of their lives. In addition to the constant manual labor, the girls have no rights or liberties, not to mention the abuse from the nuns. The woman in charge of this branch is Sister Bridget (Geraldine McEwan), who takes pleasure in humiliating the girls whenever possible. She forces them to line up naked on arrival, so that she can compare their breast size and bodies. She also breaks down their minds, trying to make them think little of themselves. In this dark, hopeless place, can anyone find an escape and try to start over?
This is a dark, brutal story that haunts your mind long after the end credits, but we only have to watch what others have lived. Yes, The Magdalene Sisters is based on real life events and as such, the impact is tremendous. If taken as a work of pure fiction, the film is so harrowing, you can’t help but be at least a little depressed, but when you consider that these events were real, it is all the more intense of an experience. Peter Mullan, better known for his work as an actor, directs with a kind of skill you wouldn’t expect from such a newcomer. But perhaps his experience in front of the camera allowed great insight, which he tapped into as a director. The Magdalene Sisters is not a complex film in terms of visual design, but there is a dark mist that falls over the visuals, which really enhances the atmosphere. Mullan creates a kind of dank, hopeless tone that overpowers the other elements, as if we were just as trapped. His cast is devoid of big name stars, but the performances are as good as we could demand. Dorothy Duffy, Nora-Jane Noone, and Anne-Marie Duff (Enigma) have the three leads and while inexperienced, more than prove themselves here. The roles demand a lot from the young women, but scene after scene, the stars deliver. This is a powerful motion picture and as such, one that is more than recommended.
A film like The Magdalene Sisters is powered by the innocent characters, who drive us to be shocked by the cruelties we witness. But in addition to those characters, we need a strong figure on the opposite side of the fence as well. In this case, that role is handled by Geraldine McEwan, who brings a true sense of evil to the picture. She is as sadistic and cruel as the role could demand, but on a realistic scale. Some of the elements that most shock us about McEwan’s role are the things we see just below the surface. So thanks to her excellent performance and the depth of the material, we’re able to draw a lot from her character. She is horrified by what deeds the girls have done to land in her institution, even ones as minor as flirting with boys, yet she often surpasses those acts with her own twisted behavior. She humiliates the girls, tortures them, and assaults them with verbal attacks, all with a sick, evil sense of humor. McEwan is most famous for her work on the stage, but she also has a solid resume of motion pictures. I’ve seen several of her other movies and hands down, this is her finest performance. Other films with McEwan include Love’s Labour’s Lost, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Henry V, and The Vault of Horror. The rest of the cast is mostly newcomers, but they’re all more than up to the task.
Video: How does it look?
The Magdalene Sisters is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is a more than solid presentation, but some flaws do surface. The print here looks good, but you’ll see some debris from time to time, as well as grain. The grain is intentional however, so it never impacts the visuals in a negative fashion. So softness is not an issue here and as far as the print debris, it never amounts to much. This is a dark movie, so the absence of softness helps keep detail in proper order and the visuals enforce the atmosphere. The black levels look superb, with stark contrast throughout and colors look good, given the visual design of the movie. A solid, often superb visual effort, so fans should be well satisfied here.
Audio: How does it sound?
This movie doesn’t call for much in terms of dynamic audio, since the focus is on low key elements, such as dialogue. As such, we can’t expect too much from the included Dolby Digital 5.1 option, though it has some moments. The assorted background noises and such come through well, but there isn’t a lot of depth. So atmosphere is reliant upon the musical soundtrack, which works out, since the music here is excellent. And in this mix, the music has ample life and body, so it all sounds as good as possible. No troubles to speak of with dialogue, as vocals have a strong, clear sound and no volume issues arise. So not a blockbuster soundtrack, but one that rises to the occasion when called upon, without fail. This disc also includes a French language track, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The disc released in the U.K. sported a solid assortment of extras, but in this version, we find a single supplement. But that one extra is a fantastic one, as Sex in a Cold Climate is a potent look into the real life events behind the motion picture. Peter Mullan was inspired by this hour long piece, so much so that he wanted to bring the brutal subject matter to the screen. I do wish the other extras found on the U.K. edition were ported over for this release, but at least the one supplement found here is a worthwhile one.
