IN THIS HOUSE OF BREDE

UK, 1975, 105 minutes, Colour.
Diana Rigg, Judi Bowker, Pamela Brown, Gwen Watford.
Directed by George Schaefer.

In This House Of Brede is a beautiful telemovie. It is based on a novel by Rumer Godden, the author of the story about Anglican nuns in India, filmed with Deborah Kerr and Jean Simmons, Black Narcissus. Rumer Godden lived with the Benedictine nuns at Stanbrook Abbey is England as background for her writing of this novel. The screenplay by James Costigan keeps the flavour of the novel and is accurate in its visual presentation of the life of nuns in a Benedictine monastery.

It is one of the best films about nuns - while contrived in its plot, it nevertheless keeps an authentic flavour and has an accuracy of detail. Direction is by George Schaefer, a director with a mixed group of films for credits including Doctors' Wives, Generation. This is an English telemovie and it has the British distinctive pace and under-playing to its credit. Diana Rigg, who won an Emmy nomination, is excellent and credible in the central role. She is supported beautifully by Gwen Watford as the novice mistress cum abbess and Pamela Brown in a familiar role of a jealous nun. Judi Bowker, who was Clare in Zeffirelli Brother Sun, Sister Moon, portrays a young novice. Dennis Quilley has a short but excellently played sympathetic role. The atmosphere of the convent, the religious themes, the optimism of solving personal problems within the framework of religious life also add to the value of the film.

1. Quality entertainment? For what audience? The impact of the telemovie? Its impact on the home audience?

2. The tradition of film about nuns? The American presentation of nuns on screen - sentimental, religious, sensational, problems? The pros and cons in audience expectation of a film about nuns? The atmosphere of realism? Optimism in the value of religious life? The impact for a Catholic audience, non-Catholic, non-Christian?

3. The qualities of the British production? The initial background of London, the abbey itself in interiors and exteriors? The authentic flavour of a convent? The colour photography, the musical score, the overtones of religious music? The quality of the cast and Diana Rigg's contribution to the success of the film?

4. The emotional response to the film, especially with the home audience? The intensity of the religious and human themes and the possibility of responding?

5. The introduction to Philippa - the opening and her leaving the office, her dinner with Sir Richard and the gist of the conversation and its implications, the car and her almost being run over, her focus on Joanna, her cat and giving it to the neighbour, her reticence in talking about herself? The train trip? The whisky and cigarettes before entering? The encounter with Joanna on the railway station? The going to the gate of the convent and entering? Diana Rigg's strength of performance, inviting the audience to understand her character and the fact that she could leave the business world and a successful career, her relationship with Richard, and enter a monastery?

6. The response to the film depending on views on religious life? Sympathy, puzzle, antipathy? The background of Benedictine religious life, the enclosed religious life with its stability, life in the abbey, ritual, liturgy, meals, work, study? How well did the film fill in the background of the details of religious life - the various collages of work being done, the details of religious life?

7. Philippa and her relationship with the dying abbess? The tension of the abbess and her death? Philippa's visit? The lack of welcome? Catherine and her sympathy? Agnes and her suspicions and jealousy? The background to the election? Audience response to Catherine's winning the election? Catherine and her strict attitudes, her wanting to serve the community as abbess, the discussion with Philippa about loving all and trying to love all?

8. Philippa and the motives for her joining religious life? How were these illustrated by the incidents in her arrival? Her presence in the chapel? The effect of the death of the abbess? Her response as a Catholic to the traditions of religious life? Her going to the upstairs room and Sister Catherine's explanation, the difference from the view in the garden? Philippa and her looking over the abbey so frequently? The development of motivations? Her goals? The criticisms of Richard? Her learning over the years? Her postulancy, the ceremonies associated with her progress through formation? The Latin classes, Sister Agnes and her criticisms? Her role in the novitiate? Study? Her changing with her vows? The credibility of her formation?

9. The contrast with the arrival of Joanna - as an attractive young girl, her very girlish ways, the contrast to Philippa, her being at the station and her memory of this, explaining it to Philippa? Her arrival in the chapel, her vivacity around the convent, singing? Her explanation of her attraction towards Philippa? Her disdain of her mother? Her love for her father? The bonds between the two – Philippa’s ignoring of her, the name Joanna? The bonds between the two growing? Agnes and her suspicions and reports to the abbess, the scenes in the library, the breaking of the rule, the sharing of the upstairs room? The scenes and clashes between the two? The Japanese postulants and Philippa’s attention, Joanna's jealousy? Her summoning David and using him to talk about herself, his advice to her? The telling of the story about young Joanna? Philippa and the timing of this story ~ the effect if it had been told earlier? The break between the two? Joanna’s staying in religious life? The infirmary encounter? The farewell?


10. The background of the Japanese postulants - the businessman and his sponsorship, the arrival of the colourful Japanese girls in England, the parallel with the reception of Philippa and Joanna, their lessons, Sister Agnes responding with warmth to them? Philippa and her experience and teaching them? The colourful reception ceremony?

11. Catherine and her ruling of the abbey over the years? The bond with Philippa? Philippa's transferring to the infirmary and looking after people, the hard physical work?

12. The upset on the day of final vows.. Richard's visit, the memories of the past, his comments on her unhappiness?

13. The parallelling of the visits of Richard and David?

14. The development of the relationship between Joanna and Philippa - the connections, the nature of warmth and friendship within religious life. love and harshness, jealousies and hurt?

15. The Japanese mission - Sister Agnes and her jealousy and wanting to go? Philippa and her wanting to belong? Agnes' illness, Philippa's caring for her, Agnes' confession and forgiveness?

16. The future for Philippa - the mission, her identification with Brede, her farewell? The sensitivity of the relationship with the abbess?

17. Feminine sensibilities in an institution. an enclosed situation, power, ritual.. career, goals, spirituality, relationships?

18. The presentation of religious life - the nature of contemplation, God's influence on these women's lives.. the rule of St. Benedict, tradition?

19. Themes of religious life and human nature? Religious experience?