Customer Reviews

Body and Soul

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

It is almost a rite of passage for beautiful actresses to portray a nun-Ingrid Bergman, Audrey Hepburn, Deborah Kerr, Jennifer Jones and Julie Andrews have all starred as women with religious vocations (and never have whimples been more flattering). Heart and Soul features beautiful Kristin Scott Thomas as the innocent yet sensual Sister Gabriel/Anna Gibson, a woman torn between the two worlds of a Welsh convent and a gritty English mill in a story based on Marcelle Bernstein's novel.

Sister Gabriel/Anna is already doubting her vocation when a family tragedy takes her back out into the world that she renounced 16 years ago. Believable character arcs, realistic sets and an excellent supporting cast make this a very satisfying five hour drama. A must see for Thomas fans. Very gripping-I had to make myself quit watching and go to bed!! Yeah BBC.

For sixteen years Sr. Gabriel lived a cloistered life in a convent. Her family consisted of an order of elderly nuns. A pesky young novice becomes infatuated with her but Sr. Gabriel knows that God will take care of such an annoyance. Life in the order is safe, comforting and routine.

God does have a way of breaking one out of his/her comfort zone. In this case Sr. Gabriel is forced to confront the outside world as she is summoned to help her pregnant sister-in-law. Her dutiful brother committed suicide and now left his sister with quite a mess to handle. Sr. Gabriel enters into the world of grief, squawking children, hideous dress and hairstyles, a hysterical sister-in-law and the family mill which is about to go under.

Kristen Scott Thomas gives a superb performance of a nun coming to grips with her faith and the various emotional and spiritual turbulance that she finds in both worlds. Sr. Gabriel finds out that one's cell can be stifling. Her other self, Anna, discovers a world that is cruel, painful, and frightening but at the same time filled with joys that she never experienced before. Body and Soul deals with a woman's need to make peace within herself and become a whole woman in the midst of the chaos surrounding her.

The great mystery is can this woman do it? Is she replacing one cell wall for another? This is an entertaining film that gives you great insight upon the temptations that plague all of us.

In this extraordinary story of a woman's crossover from one world to another, Kristin Scott Thomas's performance is astonishing. The chemistry between Sister Gabriel (KST) and her sister-in-law (Amanda Redman) is very satisfying to behold. A stunning cast throughout... There are so many delightful moments in this mini-series that it is a must-see (and own) for KST fans. Soulful throughout...

I first saw this on Masterpiece Theatre sometime in the mid 90's. I enjoyed it. What really hit home with me was when Sister Gabriel/Anna realizes that true suffering is out in the common place world, not in a convent. Life in the convent is depicted in this series as bleak, silent, cold, denial of food, hard work and lots of prayer.

When Anna first goes to see her widowed sister in law, she is shocked by the billboards (ie: an ad for condoms) and life in general outside of the convent. Very gradually she comes to realize that the vows she made 16 years earlier is not what she wants. The pain and anger her sister in law feels for both Anna (running away to the convent to avoid life) and her dead husband (he commits suicide by driving his car off the road - after mailing his very expensive watch and a few other things to his wife) leaving her with several children and one on the way is very powerful.

When Sister Gabriel/Anna returns to the convent after helping her sister in law with the new baby and children, there is much hostility towards her. One of the Sisters beomes deathly ill, Sister Gabriel is accused of bringing back disease from the outside world.

Following all of the changes from total seclusion to Anna taking her dead parents business over, making it profitable, and falling in love is very subtle. In the end Anna realizes that the decision to leave the Convent and renounce her vows is the correct thing for her to do. Anna ends up saving jobs at her parents near bankrupt yarn factory (her brother was not a good business man) by turning it around (with the help of Mother Superiors' accounting abilites) and helps with her sister in law and children. Thus finding life to be much more rewarding outside of the convent.

I won't say much about her experience falling in love, buy this DVD and find out for yourself.

As usual, this is a top notch British production.

I sat absolutely mesmerized through the first two tapes of this series. I thought it was one of the most intriguing "different" stories I had ever watched. Kristin Scott Thomas was wonderful in the lead role and the story line was fascinating. But sadly, I was disappointed with the third part. (Don't read on if you haven't seen it). I found it completely unbelievable that she would make her focus to get laid. Being a nun all those years, I could not accept that she would throw herself at a man who treated her like dirt. It was not in line with her character at all. Not believable. However, I still recommend this series. Its not typical in any way and therefore enjoyable.

Not quite bound for Vatican approval. :) Possibly disturbing for conservative Catholics but an exceptional mini-series for the mainstream, nevertheless. A must-have for K.S. Thomas admirers.

Just received the video tapes of Body and Soul. This is a must see for Kristen Scott Thomas fans-new and old alike. Everyone in this production did their roles proud. Kristen Scott Thomas was absolutely radiant in her performance, and there is no denying why her "star" has risen. Not only can she act, and act superbly, but she has the capacity to take you in with her smile, the tilt of her head as well as her eyes. I had to view all 3 tapes in one sitting, as I just had to see what was going to happen next. She was convincing as the young nun yearning for more than the convent could offer, and yet ever so afraid of her feelings. Buy this series....you'll love it.

I read all the current reviews after I saw the mini-series, because I was searching for one that might explain the ending. I have a 2 disc set (marketed may I say in the most difficult packaging I have ever encountered for a DVD. My nails broke and fingers ached after struggling with the release buttons to free the discs, but I digress). I was talking about the series' ending. And that is the point, what is the ending? It leaves us unfulfilled and wondering: and then? What happens next? Clearly, she chooses the world she wants, but what happens to the two men who are so involved in her life? What about her sister-in-law's life? What about the other characters who are integrated into the plot? Not one has a finality except for the character who is the cause of all problems, and a dead nun. (Trying here not to give anything important away.) Did she have regrets later? Did she have the children she so desperately desired? I honestly thought I must have missed an epsiode or that there was a missing disc. As a result, the series feels disappointing and anti-climatic It is cowardly of a director not to have gone farther with the plot. Had I wished to invent my opwn ending, I would have written the screnplay myself!

The cast was excellent, the screenplay interesting, though the storyline about a nun leaving a convent is not unique. Other reviewers have noted the issue of faith and the critical reception she met dressed as a nun in the outside world. For some that will be toubling.

Having watched all the epsiodes I am disappointed that the resolution was so weak.

Just received the video tapes of Body and Soul. This is a must see for Kristen Scott Thomas fans-new and old alike. Everyone in this production did their roles proud. Kristen Scott Thomas was absolutely radiant in her performance, and there is no denying why her "star" has risen. Not only can she act, and act superbly, but she has the capacity to take you in with her smile, the tilt of her head as well as her eyes. I had to view all 3 tapes in one sitting, as I just had to see what was going to happen next. She WAS the young nun yearning for more than the convent could offer, and yet ever so afraid of her feelings. Buy this series....you'll love it.

I have seen this mini-serie tree times now and I enjoyed it every time. It's a pleasure to watch KST in this role.She is just excellent! The mixture between fun, tragedy and love ist perfect It's really a must for all KST-admirers.