LITTLE SISTER
US, 2016, 90 minutes, Colour.
Addison Timlin, Ally Sheedy, Peter Hedges, Kevin Poulson, Barbara Crampton.
Directed by Zack Clark.
Little Sister is an unexpected story about a novice nun.
Addison Timlin plays Colleen, who has joined the Sisters of Mercy in Boston and is very much involved in their ministry and outreach. When she receives an email from her mother, whom she had been ignored, stating that her brother had come back wounded from the war, to get permission to take the community car and drive to see the family in North Carolina.
The Hollywood tradition probably indicates that, when she goes home, she will meet someone and not return to the convent. In fact, the end, she does.
Ally Sheedy plays her erratic mother and writer-director, Peter Hedges, plays her father. They have something of a hippie-style attitude towards life. Kevin Poulson plays Jacob, the brother who has returned from the war, his face completely disfigured, keeping to his room but gradually encouraged by his sister to come out, to meet his friends from the past, especially the girl he was in love with.
The action takes place over the five days of Colleen’s visit, Halloween week, and Colleen returns to some of the style of her past, a variety of weeks, going to visit friends, dealing with her parents, encouraging her brother. She over stays her promise there is criticism from the convent.
However, she has done a work of Mercy, returns to the convent, takes her powers – and is able to come home to celebrate Jacob’s marriage to his girlfriend.
An interesting 21st-century consideration of the vocation of a young woman to become a nun as well as a story of post war trauma and dealing with a difficult family.
1. The title? Colleen as Jacob’s little sister? As a novice nun?
2. The Boston settings for the convent, street work? The American countryside, North Carolina, homes, the forests? The musical score?
3. Colleen’s story, her growing up, relationship with each of her parents, with Jacob and the bond between them? Her girlfriends while growing up? Their families? Her decision to leave, to join the convent, to cut contact with her family?
4. The relationship with her mother? Her mother’s eccentricities, love for her daughter, the emails? The concern about Jacob and his injuries and the war? Drugs, erratic behaviour? Colleen’s father and the bond with him?
5. Colleen and her life as a novice, Sisters of Mercy, the novice mistress, the other nuns, their pastoral work, contact with people, Colleen’s activities, consoling people? Life in the convent, the refectory, prayer? Colleen wanting to borrow the car, allowed for five days?
6. Colleen and her motivation in returning home, to see Jacob? Her arrival, her room as she lifted – with the Goth touch? Re-establishing relationship with her parents? With Jacob, bonding with him, gradually drawing him out, out of his room, out of himself?
7. The week, Halloween, wigs and costumes, the neighbours?
8. Jacob, his character, in the war, disfigurement with his face, keeping to his room? Gradually coming out? His girlfriend, the bond with her, her character, her family, not disturbed by Jacob’s face?
9. The other friends in the town, the talk, Colleen visiting, the girl in the shop, her causes, the terrorist touches and bombs?
10. The ups and downs of Colleen’s relationship with her parents, the discussions, difficulties, reconciliations? Their not understanding her going to the convent?
11. The phone call to the superior, her being upset about the car not being returned?
12. Colleen, an achievement of mission with Jacob, his being able to resume life? Her encounter with his friends, the war, their abducting him and Colleen’s being afraid? The jovial outcome?
13. Colleen's return to the convent, preparation for the hours? And her return for Jacob’s wedding – and joyful celebration? Colleen’s contribution of grace to Jacob’s life?
