THE MAGDALENE SISTERS

Geraldine McEwan, Anne-Marie Duff, Nora-Jane Noone, Dorothy Duffy

Miramax Films; Directed by Peter Mullan

Rated R; 119 minutes; 2003

This film tells the story of a real convent in Ireland called the Order of the Magdalene Sisters. It is a place where sexually deviant girls are sent to lead them back to salvation. Margaret, Patricia, and Bernadette find that the “treatment” involves a prison camp atmosphere where beatings, inhumane punishment and humiliation are doled out to everyone by the fierce nuns. The girls attempt to struggle against this violent and contradictory system. While this story takes place in 1964 these practices persisted until the mid-1990’s.

PROMOTION IDEA:

Have a panel discussion of “camps” such as these where kids are rehabilitated. Bring in some representatives of either side of the issue.