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52 of 53 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
--Beautiful Story--, March 6, 2004
This review is from: In This House of Brede [VHS] (VHS Tape)
IN THIS HOUSE OF BREDE is based on the novel written by that most talented author, Rumer Godden. She's also the author of BLACK NARCISSUS, another great novel that was made into a wonderful film. This movie begins when an attractive, well-dressed woman leaves her home and travels to an abbey. Phillipa Talbot (Diana Rigg) is a lady who has a successful career and a man who loves her, but is unhappy in that life, and enters the cloistered world of Benedictine nuns. This is a beautiful production and Diana Rigg gives an outstanding performance as a very worldly and sophisticated person who chooses the religious life. The film is spellbinding and it's one of the few stories that really seem to take you into that unknown world where women become nuns. The relationships among the nuns and postulants were interesting and close friendships were not encouraged since everyone was to be loved equally. This story also shows how committed religious deal with their peers when jealousies arise and personalities are conflicted. Yes, the book examines the characters more than the film, but that's always the case, and this is a marvelous production
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30 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
The book is so much better., April 21, 2003
This review is from: In This House of Brede [VHS] (VHS Tape)
In This House of Brede is a literary gem, and I couldn't wait to see this film, especially since I am a fan of Diana Rigg's...but the film disappoints, and mightily. I understand that not all of Godden's ideas could translate easily into what was a 'movie for television', but the scriptwriter took two of the more fascinating elements of the book - Philippa's memories of her son and the young novice, Cecily, too starry-eyed to understand all she is undertaking, and twists them together into a jarring, uncomforable third character that simply feels too contrived to work. Also, one of the major themes of the book, having to do with Dame Veronica and the abbey debt (and another to do with Dame Agnes' prejudice) are all ignored. What you are left with is a sort of skeletal hinging of atmosphere with very little story. I had hoped for so much more. I really wanted to see these beloved characters come to life. That said, I believe the film was partly on location at Stanbrook Abbey, (Brede is based on Stanbrook and on St. Cecilia's Abbey in Ryde, Isle of Wight) and the interiors are terrific.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Movie vs reality, January 31, 2004
Having lived several years of my life as a religious and a Benedictine, I can state that, for under two hours long, this movie gives quite a good picture of religious life. Nuns, like everyone else, are human beings with all the weaknesses that come with that. Attachments and dependancies on one another do happen, although discouraged, and they aren't necessarily negative. The strong can work through them. And postulants and professed are allowed to speak to each other, at appropriate times of course. Still, human beings are human beings!! Overall a pretty good movie.
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