8. The Magdalene Sisters
The film is directed by Peter Mullen and is based on the negative character of religious institutions and their treatment of the women residing there; the movie is purely a work of fiction but was aimed at giving voice and recognition to the former and rescued residents of the Magdalene laundries. However, the story is loosely connected to the actual account of the Magdalene Asylums and the treatment women receive there; the former Magdalene Asylums’ inmate Mary-Jo McDonagh articulated that the real happenings were worse than the ones shown in the movie. The story centres on three women; Rose having an illegitimate son, Margaret who was raped by her cousin and Bernadette, fond of flirting with boys. The three women are sent to the asylum to repent for their sins and are received by the Head Sister; the Sisters teach the women that washing clothes mean that they are washing away their sins through hard work. They even make fun of their bodies by criticising the differences and change their names as an act of eradicating their true identity. The reason the film for making serious controversy is the way the religious figures are portrayed in it; one of the girls at the asylum was sexually abused by a reputable Father and later the same girl was delivered to the mental asylum to stop the issue from heating up. On its release where the movie received positive comments, though it was very rare, it caused some grave distaste too, especially among the religious society. William Donohue, president of conservative Catholic league, condemned the movie severely and demanded Disney to break its ties from Miramax whereas the Vatican believed it to be a sheer piece of exaggeration and insult to the ecclesiastical institutions and bodies.
Discussion about this post