PHILOMENA
UK, 2013, 97 minutes, Colour.
Judi Dench, Steve Coogan, Anna Maxwell Martin, Barbara Jefford, Ruth Mc Cabe, Mare Winningham.
Directed by Stephen Frears.
Philomena is a good old-fashioned Catholic name, a bit like Christopher, names which derive from saints whose authenticity was questioned. So, Philomena is an apt name for the central character evoking a past Catholic Church, a strong and triumphant Church, which is now shaming so many Catholics around the world. This film has subject material that has been brought up in many government enquiries, particularly in Ireland where the key action of this film takes place. The fate of unmarried and pregnant young women in Ireland was often a kind of internment in institutions run by sisters, using the young women as Magdalenes in their laundries. Films which dramatised these situations include The Magdalene Sisters and the telemovie, Sinners.
Some reviewers have raised the question as to whether this film is an attack on the Catholic church, especially the reviewer of the New York Daily Post.
An atheist movie reviewer has criticized the new film “Philomena” as “another hateful and boring attack on Catholics,” saying that it unfairly shows the Church as exploitative and coercive.
“Anyone who is honest understands that it lambastes the way Irish Catholicism played out in 1950s Ireland, using falsehoods whenever necessary to underscore the point,” said Kyle Smith, a movie critic for the New York Post.
“Some like ‘Philomena’ for that reason. Some think there should be a little more art than diatribe to a film,” he continued.
… “a witless bore,” “90 minutes of organized hate,” and “a diabolical-Catholics film, straight-up.”
This is a reminder that the Catholic Church has been criticised in a number of films, especially in the context of clerical sexual abuse. Catholics are being asked to examine the conscience of the Church and acknowledge more sinfulness than they might have imagined in years gone by. Whatever the stance of Philomena, it contributes to this examination of conscience.
The challenge of the film will be more extensive than others since it stars the ever-popular Judi Dench as Philomena and she gives one of her best performances, already nominated for awards. Philomena is getting widespread distribution.
Older Catholics, especially in English-speaking countries, could recount similar stories to those in the film: harsh attitudes towards these young women, severe and authoritarian behaviour of nuns and clergy. But, so many Catholics, while decrying this behaviour, remained steadfast in their faith – as does Philomena Lee, the actual subject of the film. She wrote a letter to Kyle Smith criticising his review and professing her faith.
The US Catholic News Service reviewer, John Mulderig, takes a more balanced approach in considering the Church issues:
… properly viewed, "Philomena" may serve to illustrate the dangers that can result when appreciation for the virtue of chastity degenerates into puritanical repression — and when objective moral truths are misused as judgmental bludgeons.
With the exception of one seemingly temporary crisis, moreover, Philomena herself is shown to cling tenaciously to the very faith by whose representatives she was so cruelly mistreated. In fact, her Gospel-based beliefs help to set up the contrast in personalities between the two leads on which much of the movie's drama — as well as many of its interludes of much-needed comic relief — turn.
Throughout their interaction, Philomena's religiously inspired enthusiasm for life, friendliness toward others and willingness to forgive are shown to be in stark opposition to Sixsmith's jaded, isolating air of condescension.
Mulderig makes the important point:Even so, the challenging material on offer here, including a conflicted but not fundamentally hostile outlook on faith.
And the film itself.
It was written by Steve Coogan, best known as a comic performer and writer, himself an ex-Catholic portraying journalist, Labour government adviser, Martin Sixsmith (also ex-Catholic), who worked with Philomena Lee in the search for the son who was suddenly taken from her when he was about six. While Coogan has written all the anti-Catholic comments in the film and Sixsmith demands an apology from Sister Hildegarde, morally intransigent in her attitudes towards the young women, declaring that they deserve their pain and suffering for their immoral behaviour, Coogan has devoted his energies to this story. (There is dramatic licence here since the actual Sister Hildegarde was dead.)
Audiences can forget that it was Coogan who also wrote the faith statements of Philomena as well as her criticisms of Sixsmith’s anger and seeming bitterness.
Judi Dench perfectly embodies Philomena, now elderly, a former nurse, who signed a document of silence about what happened to her and her son. She is a simple woman, not so quick on jokes, loves to recount the plots of Mills and Boons type novels. Martin Sixsmith decides to investigate where the boy might have been taken – which leads to the US.
The search is a blend of hope and disappointment, finally reaching a sad solution, once again highlighting the cruel decisions of the sisters concerning concealing information from Philomena and her son.
While the performances are powerful and the subject so serious, there is a great deal of humour (like the bit in the trailer where Philomena refuses a drink on British Airways, Martin telling her that it is free and she relenting, remarking that you have to pay for everything on Ryanair).
The director is the prolific Stephen Frears, a master of all kinds of genre. His other film with Catholic themes is Liam, a story of Catholics in Liverpool in the 1930s, written by Jimmy McGovern?.
Both Liam, in 2000, and Philomena, 2013, won the SIGNIS (World Catholic Association for Communication) award at the Venice Film Festival.
1. A true life story? Human interest story? A critique of the treatment of children? Ireland?
2. The awards and acclaim?
3. Judi Dench, Steve Coogan, their screen presence, Steve Coogan and his co-writing the script? The adaptation of Philomena Lee’s book? The story of Martin Sixsmith?
4. The introduction to the film via Martin Sixsmith, his role in the Labour Party and the actual television footage of his sacking, going to the psychologist, depressed, going to the party, meeting the editor, her showing interest? The issue of human interest storyies? Philomena’s daughter working, overhearing, Martin’s refusal, asking his wife’s advice, tracking down the daughter, setting up the meeting with Philomena?
5. Meeting Philomena, her age, Irish background, the flashbacks to her as young, at the fair, meeting the boy, the sexual encounter and her later explanation of enjoying it, yet her sense of shame, sense of sin? The pregnancy, the family sending her to Roscrea? Her life there, the difficulties of the birth, the breach birth, no help, the nuns present, one helping, the others and the attitude that these girls deserved the pain? Pain as a penance? Philomena’s life, the hard work in the laundry, all week, her friendship with her co-worker and her daughter? The children playing together? The mothers having access to their children one hour per day? The disappearance of her friend’s daughter? Her watching Anthony going in the car, at the gate? The buyers, coming from America, the fee paid? Philomena sad, leaving, signing a document of secrecy, thinking about her son every day?
6. Philomena, her work is a nurse, her strong relationship with her daughter, the photo of her son, the daughter finding it, her revealing of the truth, the daughter’s concern, the approach to Martin Sixsmith?
7. The situation, the Magdalene communities, Ireland in the 1950s, harsh society, families and their harsh decisions? The institutions, the nuns, the ethos of nuns at the time, strict? The girls in servitude, humiliated, not allowed to speak about their situation? The kind nun getting the photo for Philomena, the only record of her son?
8. The changing Church, Philomena and Martin visiting, the African sister, not wearing a habit, Sister Clare and the welcome, the discussions, Sister Clare’s resistance to Martin as a journalist, as an ex-Catholic? The denials? The very the later revelation of the son’s visit to Roscrea, their not telling him anything about his mother, his being buried in the cemetery? The first visit to the cemetery and it’s being overgrown, Martin’s criticism to the sisters? The last visit?
9. Sister Hildegarde symbolising the nuns, her role in the past, later at her great age, challenged by Martin after following her, her impassioned speech about herself, her fidelity to her vows, the women meriting what they suffered? Philomena forgiving her? Martin unable to forgive her?
10. Martin and Philomena, her lack of a sense of humour and picking up the jokes, plain talk, a love for Mills and Boon type stories and the long accounting of the story to Martin and his reaction? Her wanting to watch Big Momma’s House and saying it looked hilarious, the end of the film and her recounting another Mills and Boon novel?
11. The life effect on Philomena, her sadness, her memories of the Magdalen work, the memories of leaving, the visits to the convent, the story of the fire, the loss of the documents, yet her document acknowledging secrecy survived? Yet her continued faith, going to the church to pray, speaking about her faith and not being bitter?
12. Martin, his research, information from America, information about the American couples coming and giving money for the babies, Jane Russell’s photo? Documents and research, working on the date of birth for Anthony to discover if he was still alive? In America?
13. The decision to go to the United States, Philomena’s resistance, yet her going, the comedy on the plane, having the drink and commenting on Ryanair and paying for everything? In Washington, going to the Lincoln Memorial? The building up of the contacts? Her comments about obesity and her concern about what might have happened to Anthony?
14. Martin, his journalist and political contacts, his being seen in the photo with Anthony, his change of his name to Michael? His career, advising the Reagan Administration, Bush administration? The revelation that he was gay, Philomena immediately accepting this, the dungarees? The visit to the sister, the story of the parents, harsh, no talk about Ireland, seeing the home movies and the scenes recurring throughout the film? Philomena wanting to know what her son had said to Martin: hello?
15. Martin and his contacts with the editor? Her hard attitudes and wanting the tough stories?
16. The visit to Peter, the gay partner, tracking him down, the address, travelling, Martin trying to doorstop him, Philomena knocking on the door, going in, talking, learning about Michael’s life with Peter, HIV, her getting a picture of her son and his talk about Ireland?
17. Michael and his love of Ireland, going to Roscrea, not getting any information about his mother, his being buried there?
18. Philomena and Michael returning, the sisters, Sister Clare, the truth, Sister Hildegarde, forgiveness, Philomena accusing Martin of being too angry and unforgiving, it’s ruining his life? The visit to the cemetery?
19. A moving film, a critique with heart, humour, forgiveness, acknowledgement of the harsh realities of church life?
