BLACK NARCISSUS

UK, 2020, 175 minutes (3x55), Colour.

Gemma Arterton, Aisling Franciosa, Alessandro Nivola, Rosie Cavalliero, Patsy Ferran, Soumil Malla, Jim Broadbent, Diana Rigg.

Directed by Charlotte Bruus Christensen.

Black Narcissus is based on a novel by popular writer, Rumer Godden. It was made into a successful, even classic, filmed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger in 1947, while India settings were all filmed in British studios. And it starred Deborah Kerr in the central role of the superior of the Anglican convent in the Himalayas, with Kathleen Byron as the nun eventually going mad, with David Farrar, Jean Simmons and Sabu.

This production offers more time to explore the characters and themes, a television miniseries with three hour-long episodes.

The film takes advantage of location photography to set the atmosphere of India and the Himalayas, the villages, the remote convent. This time Gemma Arteton as the central role and makes it her own. There is a very strong supporting cast portraying the sisters in the convent, the various personalities, their experience of life in India, their backgrounds in England, spirituality, worldliness, the crushing of personality and emotions.

There is also a strong supporting cast including Aisling Franciosa (The Nightingale), with Jim Broadbent as the priest, Alessandro Nivola as the local inspector and object of desire by the mentally disturbed nun, and one of her final performances by Diana Rigg.

There is a place for the 1947 version as well as this 21^st-century version.

1. 21^st-century British mini-series for television? The remake of the 1947 classic? Comparisons?
2. The original at 100 minutes, this remake having almost 80 minutes extra to develop the characters and situations? More information about the characters, more details of their interactions, the personal and moral crises?
3. The 1930s setting, Britain and its colonial presence in India, colonial attitudes? Anglican missionaries and their role? Education? Religion? The local governors and generals? Sympathy towards the British and not? Education opportunities? The British administrators on behalf of local government?
4. The Anglican background, High Church? Similarities with Catholicism? The religious congregation, habits, names, commitment, capital and statues, mission, community life, the role of the superior, obedience? In the context of India, being away from England, in the heights of the Himalayas? Spirituality, prayer, scripture readings? Community meetings? The role of the superior in Darjeeling, communication with her, decisions about moving Sisters and others coming in? The role of the priest, chaplain, supervisor?
5. The scenes in Darjeeling, introduction to Sister Clodagh, the discussions with the superior, decisions about the school, the selection of the Sisters, the work, the intended visit of father Roberts?
6. The flashbacks, the young woman, pregnant, giving birth, enclosed in the room, her falling to her death? The housekeeper and her devotion? The locked room? Unchanged? Forbidden?
7. Stories about the failure of the German brothers, closing the school? Apprehensions about setting it up? The local general? The agent?
8. The journey, the difficulties, the group of Sisters, the arrival, the welcome? The housekeeper and her welcome? The later introduction of the young girl, lower caste? The space for school, classes? The little girls coming? The prince, age, experience, his requesting education? Gradually setting up the school, the routines?
9. Mr Dean, the war background, in India rather than England, his attitudes, drinking, with women, atheism? His work, helping the sisters, the building, transport? The interactions with Sister Clodagh? The setting up of the sexual tension? His attitudes, his reticence? The attacks by Sister Clodagh? Imposition by Sister Ruth? The other Sisters collaborating with him in the work and admiring him?
10. The general, welcoming the Sisters, his control, the Prince? The behaviour of the Prince with the young girl, the issue of lower caste, the public caning?
11. Sister Clodagh, her character, flashbacks to the past, the romance, the war, the young man going, not wanting her on return, her family? Entering the convent? The mission? Strong-willed, the challenge to her pride? Are being commissioned to start the school, her relationship with the other sisters? The management of the community? The meetings, rebukes? Sister Philippa and the garden, closure reprimanding her about obedience? Sister Philippa and her leaving? Clodagh’s regrets? The crisis with Sister Blanche and the baby, the medicine, the baby’s death? The danger of an uprising? Mr Dean resolving the issue? With Sister Brioney, practical, helping, with solutions, commonsense?
12. Sister Ruth, her background, mental instability, in the community, jealousy of Sister Clodagh? The attraction to Mr Dean? The erratic behaviour, Fr. Roberts and his visit, on Sister Ruth’s side? Ruth going into the locked room, the dress of the dead woman? The gradual buildup of tension, Sister Clodagh and her apprehensions, the discussions with Mr Dean, on the belltower? Ruth, the dress, going to Mr Dean, his rejection of her? Her going to the belltower, the struggle with Sister Clodagh, falling to her death?
13. Sister Adela, sent as a replacement, puritanical attitudes, critical of Sister Clodagh, the experiences, Mr Dean, Judgmental?
14. Sister Clodagh, the handling of the crises, jolts to her pride, sleepless nights, wandering, the discussions with Mr Dean, clashes, apologies?
15. The attention given to the Indian characters, the housekeeper and her beliefs, support, the young girl, the encounters with the prince, the sexual encounter, her being caned? Sister Clodagh’s stand? Joseph Anthony, young, at the school, diligent in his work? The general, his standing, the Prince?
16. The holy man, sitting in contemplation, Sister Adela and her objections, Sister Clodagh going to him? The revelation that he was the general’s brother?
17. The failure of the mission, the school, the Sisters withdrawing?
18. Portrait of a religious community? Of the individual Sisters? Of these difficulties and struggle in the mission? In the context of colonial India?