Magdalene Sisters Sociology
Critical Overview
“Nothing put a more monstrous face on the laundries than The Magdalene Sisters” (Bill Donohue). The film received praise with just about everyone but the Catholic Church, “none of this is true” (Donohue). The Magdalene Sisters won a multitude of awards and was nominated for more. The film followed only 4 of the over 30,000 girls that were abused by the Catholic Laundries for a period of 5 years, while some women spent their lives slaves to the church (Neil Smith). The Catholic League was very critical of the movie, but the movie did stay true to the historical context. “Worthwhile movie because it is well-made and encourages viewers to think and feel” (James Berardinelli). There was no “silver lining” in this film, it …show more content…
It starts by showing why each of the girls were sent to the Laundry then follows their journey while there. By going in chronological order we see the effects the Laundry has on the girls over the 5 years they are there. With this being a Drama/Prison film the girls are mostly always inside the convent. At the rare times they get outside they are often scared of being accepted anywhere else but the convent. For example, Margaret finds a gate that is unlocked and steps outside, shockingly a car passes and stops to see if she needs a ride. Her mindset is use to the isolation of the laundry and she stands there with no response to the mans question. She eventually says no and with the man pulling away she watches her hope drive off. Margaret was scared of being accepted outside of her laundry, showing prison like mindset the laundry had enacted on her. Margaret’s almost escape, increases the intensity. The Climax of the movie is when Margaret outs the priest for his sexual abuse of Crispina, but with doing that Crispina is sent to a mental institution to cover up the priest’s wrongs. Eventually after many years of torture, the film concludes by showing how the three girls became free from the laundry. Margaret being set free by her brother, Rose and Bernadette escaping. At the end of the film there is an update on what the girls are doing post Magdalene, which really ties up the chronological structure of the
“Nothing put a more monstrous face on the laundries than The Magdalene Sisters” (Bill Donohue). The film received praise with just about everyone but the Catholic Church, “none of this is true” (Donohue). The Magdalene Sisters won a multitude of awards and was nominated for more. The film followed only 4 of the over 30,000 girls that were abused by the Catholic Laundries for a period of 5 years, while some women spent their lives slaves to the church (Neil Smith). The Catholic League was very critical of the movie, but the movie did stay true to the historical context. “Worthwhile movie because it is well-made and encourages viewers to think and feel” (James Berardinelli). There was no “silver lining” in this film, it …show more content…
It starts by showing why each of the girls were sent to the Laundry then follows their journey while there. By going in chronological order we see the effects the Laundry has on the girls over the 5 years they are there. With this being a Drama/Prison film the girls are mostly always inside the convent. At the rare times they get outside they are often scared of being accepted anywhere else but the convent. For example, Margaret finds a gate that is unlocked and steps outside, shockingly a car passes and stops to see if she needs a ride. Her mindset is use to the isolation of the laundry and she stands there with no response to the mans question. She eventually says no and with the man pulling away she watches her hope drive off. Margaret was scared of being accepted outside of her laundry, showing prison like mindset the laundry had enacted on her. Margaret’s almost escape, increases the intensity. The Climax of the movie is when Margaret outs the priest for his sexual abuse of Crispina, but with doing that Crispina is sent to a mental institution to cover up the priest’s wrongs. Eventually after many years of torture, the film concludes by showing how the three girls became free from the laundry. Margaret being set free by her brother, Rose and Bernadette escaping. At the end of the film there is an update on what the girls are doing post Magdalene, which really ties up the chronological structure of the