Customer Reviews

In This House of Brede [VHS]

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

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

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.

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.

I have not yet read the book, so cannot compare the film to it. But, on its own, I found it so compelling and beautiful. This is what true devotion to Christ is about--love. And about trying and trying again until one does finally get it right. The nuns were all very real, in their demeanor, in their foibles, in their interactions and in their strivings to live a holy life. I watched "The Nun's Story" shortly after seeing "In This House of Brede" and was disgusted with its unrealistic portrayl of devotion to Christ, allowing selfishness and pride to triumph over self-giving love. "In This House of Brede" shows us a good deal of the beauty of the Catholic Church through the devotion of the religious life.

I have not read the book that this movie was based upon, but from the perspective of watching the movie by itself, I have to say that it was enjoyable! The location they chose for the filming was a perfect stage to tell this gentle story on, and the acting was pleasing. The characters are fleshed out fairly well, and the long time-span that they use to demonstrate the evolution of the main character's vocational life is a nice element.

It's difficult to speak in greater detail without giving too much away, but I can say that this movie is worth a rental for anyone who enjoys stories that focus on interaction, reflection and the dynamics of working and platonic relationships. The characters were authentic and flexible. A good nun movie!

This film is based on the novel of the same name by Rumer Godden, who was a Benedictine Oblate (lay order of the Benedictines). Her novel is based on personal observations garnered from her association with Stanbrook Abbey in England, and, as far as pre-Vatican II norms go, is a pretty accurate portrayal of life in an enclosed community of nuns. That said, the film version has taken many liberties with Godden's story, ones that involve the very essentials of plot and character. If you have read and liked the book, don't expect a faithful adaptation in this film. If you know something about cloistered religious life, DO expect many inaccuracies. If you DON'T know about cloistered religious life, don't expect to gain much accurate information from this film.

Armed with the above expectations, one can still enjoy the film's performances, which are excellent. I enjoy watching it, despite the fact that I think the book is infinitely more satisfying (I'd love to see a BBC mini-series in future; there's enough variety of plot, many interesting characters, and a touch of intrigue). I don't NOT recommend buying the DVD; I only advise buying it with your eyes open and your judgment well-informed.

This is my favorite movie of all time. The human and moral values expressed are of the very highest quality, while expressing all the humanity of man.
I wish every person in the world would see this film and realize the uplifting and world changing values.

This was a very interesting and touching story. There a few flaws,but I think one would have to be familiar with monastic life to spot them.Also, the film is very slow at the beginning, and one might lose interest before the plot is revealed. There are also some other odd things. For example, even though these nuns consecrate themselves to God and serve Him through prayer, God was only mentioned a few times.Their lives seemed mostly to consist of recreation,talking,and little hard work. Also, in this film almost has a "soap opera" style of acting and plot progression. I think melodrama is narrowly avoided in several scenes. All that said, it is an enjoyable film.

Late one night, quite a few years ago, I saw this gem on the tube and enjoyed it so much, I vowed I'd eventually buy it. After reading the book (which is fantastic, if religious cloistered life, complex characters, and picturesque details interest you at all) I was motivated to see it again. After buying it, I found it to be all I remembered, and with the added texture provided by the book, the film was especially entertaining. I grew up with Avenger re-runs and was not surprised to see "Mrs. Peele" had lost none of her appeal in those regal habits.

If you love the book as much as I do, you'll probably see the video/movie as a pale imitation. Granted, the media differ--no film could ever include all the episodes in the book. But, we never learn why Phillipa decided to enter the monestary, there's no Abbess Hester, no Keith, no Sister Polycarp, no Duranski, no motive for the entry of the Japanese postulants and so forth.

The theme of the film is that Phillipa must learn to love everyone equally. Mercifully, the screen writer did leave us Dame Agnes, if only so Phillipa could have a difficult person to learn to love. The theme is therefore "monastic." Therefore this film is a cut above far too many movies about nuns.