Last night I watched the 1989 film The Passion of Bernadette. While I have read some very bad reviews of the film, I was pleasantly surprised.Just like the prequel, Bernadette, this film lacks the "drama" and "suspense" found in most popular Catholic movies. The 1943 film The Song of Bernadette is one of my favorite films, but it is dramatized and sometimes inaccurate. While Bernadette and The Passion of Bernadette may seem "boring" to some people, they both tell the true story of Saint Bernadette. Her daily life in the convent was often boring and mundane, but that is okay - she became a Saint through the "little things" of daily life.
It was a bit strange to see Sydney Penny (who later went on to become a soap opera star) play Bernadette, but I was able to get past that. The film sometimes portrays Bernadette to be somewhat of a snob, which is not in accordance with the many accounts of her life, but overall I enjoyed it.
The film covers Bernadette's day to day life in the convent, and the persecution she often suffered from some of the nuns. It was filmed in Bernadette's actual convent in Nevers, which made it especially touching. Overall, it is highly recommended!
4 comments:
I was at a Catholic bookstore on Saturday. I saw this movie but being a big fan of The Song of Bernadette I did not know what to think of this and ended up buying something else. Now that I read of your endorsement perhaps I will have to go back.
i had the chance to watch part of this on EWTN. it's a sweet version... a bit different than The Song of Bernadette. awhile ago i talked to a girl who looked like the actress who played Bernadette in The Passion of Bernadette. she was looking for the A.C.T. study guide books. and that spells act, which is what an actress does. she didn't say it was her, but i had recently seen the movie, but i don't know how the actress would know that, so it probably wasn't her. i probably was just thinking of her face since i saw it.
i saw her at the library, by the way, i forgot to mention that.
I love this movie! It is just simple truth- just like Bernadette so I suppose it figures. I've watched it millions of times and I never get bored :-)I like The Song of Bernadette too but this is more real - more true.
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