Jules Chevalier Bicentenary celebrations, Melbourne.

Our bicentenary celebration took place in the parish church of St Thomas, Blackburn, which the MSC serve.

We celebrated on the day itself, the Friday 10 o’clock mass followed by refreshments. It was a combined celebration for members of the parish, for the MSC in Melbourne,

for Elizabeth Taylor and the OLSH sisters, for Sister Tess Veenker, MSC Sisters Provincial, Laity of the Chevalier Family, Margaret O’Loughlin and Lee Toll.

Mark Hanns MSC presided at the Eucharist.

Lee Toll offered her homily reflection

communicating the experience of the January gathering of the Laity of the Chevalier Family in Cebu, Philippines, memories of Jules Chevalier, the Internationality of the gathering – illustrated with many slides by Lee as were the parts of the mass and the hymns, concluding the celebration with what has become our Chevalier anthem, James Maher’s Woman of the Sacred Heart, illustrated with a wonderful collection of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Heart images.

And, a significant part of the refreshments, a birthday cake – and the cutting of the cake, in the photo above: Sister Relida OLSH, Lee Toll, Michael Sims MSC, Elizabeth Taylor OLSH, Mark Hanns MSC - and glimpsed, Margaret O'Loughlin and Philip Malone MSC.

Appreciation to Trieu and Hoa for photos

And a welcoming greeting from the Bishop of Darwin, Charles Gauci:

Today is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Fr Jules Chevalier MSC, the founder of OLSH and MSC.

The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart - Australia and Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart congregations have given so much to our Diocese. So many of them have poured blood, sweat, and tears in the service of God and God’s people. The first 3 bishops and most of the priests and sisters in our Diocese have served here for many years because of this man’s inspiration and vision.

We thank God for them all and for him. In what they have given to us, we are forever grateful.

+Charles

Celebrating Jules Chevalier’s 200^th birthday

As we celebrate birthdays, we do so in the light of the achievements of the person we are celebrating. Then, we remember, that on the actual birth day, it was an ordinary day, a child born to loving parents, but no guiding star shining in the heavens.

So today, we celebrate the day of Jules Chevalier’s birth, in central France, Richelieu, to his parents, Louise and Charles, joyful, but not anticipating how their son’s life would turn out, his simple background, his seminary studies, the discovery of the Heart of Jesus, his priestly commitment, his zest for parish life, the inspiration to start a missionary congregation, to name Mary Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, his gathering so many to himself but seeing them scattered by anticlerical laws throughout Europe, then far beyond, especially to the missionary lands of the Pacific, the Sister Congregations, the outreach to the Laity . And, the sadness of his last days, ousted from his Presbytery, yet faithful and, after 83 years of life, almost 53 years in his MSC vocation, he left us his heritage.

Reflection.  Founder

From Charles Piperon:  The foundation of a religious Congregation is not an ordinary work that depends on human will, or that a person may undertake or not just as he may wish, like the construction of a monument, the running of an estate, or any other operation that is left to our free choice in accordance with our natural talents. To think in this way would be to ignore an elementary truth about religion.

Founders receive their mission from on high. They receive the same instructions as Moses, “see that you build according to the model shown you” (Exodus 25:40). The success or not of their enterprise depends on their fidelity in responding to the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. From this fact also arises a religious family’s obligation to preserve a lovingly the spirit it has received from its founder.

Reflection: Social reign of the Sacred Heart.

From his letter to Father Delaporte MSC, 16 February 1891.

No, I am a no means indifferent, as you seem to think, about the establishment of the social reign of the Sacred Heart. Nobody desires it more than I do – be sure of that. If time had permitted me, I would have written long ago a series of articles on that important subject in our Annals, for I consider it one of the principal works of our Congregation.

I have spoken around about many times concerning the matter, but nobody could or would take on the task. Since you were fully engaged in labour questions, in articles for the newspapers and in your periodical…, I refrained from asking you to take in hand this part of the program of our Annals. Since you can do it, I’m not only not opposed to it, but I wholeheartedly urge you to do so.

Honouring Jules Chevalier, media and communications pioneer, 200. Chevcom.

On this bicentenary occasion, a proposal. In fact, it was the fruit of international tri-congregation meetings, 1999-2005, MSC. FDNSC, MSC: that we use the name ‘Chevcom’ for our communications. The inspiration came from Jescom, Jesuit Communications. The proposal was heard favourably in 2005 by our incoming General Council – the emerging era of setting up websites and internet activity. However, a more traditional Latin terminology prevailed, “misacor’.

The exception was Julius Kumar MSC in India who has persevered for many years with ‘Chevcom’ on site and Facebook. The main illustration here is a screen shot from one of his videos.

In almost 20 years, the social media face of the world has changed, developed. We text, we abbreviate, we use key phrases. What if we were able to adopt Chevcom, Chevalier Communications, for many (all?) of our media and communications, promoting MSC life, the life of the whole Chevalier Family in the name of media and communications pioneer, Jules Chevalier himself.

A message from Kerala, Dominic Gleeson MSC

Hello from Kerala, India, on the first day of the Ignatian 30 Day retreat for the men of the MSC Indian Province novitiate!   I arrived on Friday evening 8 March at about midnight and began the 'disposition days' the following morning. 

The photo with the three 'wise men'  of the novitiate are (left to right) Sumanth, Kranthi and Sanu.  Please remember them in your prayers....They are a delight to be with and they can't do enough for me to help me settle in. 

The other photo was taken in the community chapel where we celebrated the Eucharist to begin the retreat and I was able to gift to each man a symbol of their choosing to take to their prayer spaces to help them to focus on their prayer for the next 30 days.

The third photo is taken at an MSC community meal with the three men of the MSC Novitiate, two community members who live here (including Alex Kulandai, msc - Novice Director) and his assistant Nelson, msc.  At table are three men who will be ordained to the Diaconate this Saturday, Karthik, Sesu and Vinodh.  I received a very warm welcome by the MSC here and it is an honour and a privilege for me to serve in this way - despite the fact that my flight was late I was welcomed at the airport at midnight by Fr Darwin (Indian Union Superior).

It is hot and humid 24/7 but as Michael Fallon said to me once after his experience of being in India -  "it's only weather, Dominic" ...

Fourth General Councillor, Simon Lumpini Mbala.

We continue our series on our new General Council. He is the second Brother on the Council

I am Brother LUMPINI MBALA Simon, msc from the Democratic Republic of Congo (Francophone African Union). I completed my novitiate to South Africa, studied Pastoral Theology in Yaoundé, Cameroun, and Management and Administration of School and Training Institutions (GAISF) in Kinshasa. In 2020, I was appointed formator for the pre-novitiate in Kinshasa.

I was on the road (Emmaus) from the Limeté community when I received a message from the General Superior. He called me later and proposed I become a member of the General Leadership Team. This proposal was a complete surprise to me, and I reminded him who I was. However, he reiterated it was Br Simon from the Righni pre-novitiate whom he was appointing to the Leadership Team, despite the fact I was not a delegate at the General Chapter. I confess his proposal came as a shock! Moreover, I was planning the 2023-2024 pre-novitiate, so this all felt like a ‘dream’. I told him I could not answer him immediately and needed time to reflect and pray on his request.

Following our conversation, I went to the chapel to pray and meditate on this proposal and asked God, ‘Why Simon?’, and my response was, if it’s God’s will, why not! God does not call those who are able, but he enables those he calls. When Abzalon called back, I informed him my response was, ‘Yes, I accept’. Then, what felt like a dream had become a reality. I remembered that God can call wherever we are … “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8).

On 4 October 2023, on the Feast of St Francis of Assisi at 3:00 p.m. Kinshasa time, I was elected General Assistant by the capitulants in Rome. “We are all servants but do not have the same workload. To each person, according to his abilities, God entrusts responsibilities. When He calls us, he fills our lives with his presence according to the volume of the container we bring. Let us not let His graces die in us”.

When Fr BANACKISSA Yvon, msc (Union Superior) made the news public, I went to the chapel to thank God. Afterwards, I received calls from the Brothers and Sisters everywhere to congratulate and encourage me. May your prayers, Brothers and Sisters, accompany me so that God’s will be done, and Mary, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, pray for me.

New Book (revised): In The Armed Services, MSC Chaplains and Servicemen. James Littleton MSC.

Once more, an opportunity to honour Jim Littleton for, amongst his many achievements, especially in education, for his contribution to research on MSC history, providing valuable material, information as well is stimulus for further research.

He has just published a revised version of his original 2009 book on MSC In The Armed Services, noting and acknowledging, especially, MSC brothers and priests and armed services before their entering the congregation. The three names and the contents, many now deceased, and a number who shared her MSC life with us for some years.

Last year, Jim published an autobiographical overview of his life and ministry. And, just over a fortnight ago, he celebrated his 94^th birthday.

Once more, an acknowledgement of his many achievements.

Jim has thanked John Walker for typing so man of his manuscripts,

Some Significant March Days for the Chevalier Family, 2024 

NOTE:

this is an amplified version of Significant Days, combining the list made originally by Cor Novum, Issoudun, now with the addition of dates from Father Jan Bovenmars MSC’s book, Jules Chevalier, Daily Readings. His book was published in 1993 – so, more recent just from all around the congregation and the Chevalier family would be most welcome.

49 new Significant Days have been added for March.

March 15^th, birthday of Jules Chevalier and the year of the bicentenary celebration of  his birth.

March 25th has many entries, a significant day. It includes the foundation of the Handmaids of the Lord in 1918 by Archbishop Alain de Boismenu MSC.

MSC Sister have quite a number of significant March days, including the foundation and some mission outreaches.

1 March, 1893

First edition of the Dutch Annals of OLSH

1 March, 1968

Opening of St Pauls National Seminary for Late Vocations at Kensington, Australia.

1 March, 1976

Archbishop Virgil Copas resigns as Apostolic Administrator Bereina, PNG, and Bishop Louis Vangeke is transferred to the see.

1 March, 1985

MSC house canonically erected in Fiji. Father Kevin Barr is the first Superior.

2 March, 1965

First profession of a number of first MSC members: the first from Alotau, Eastern Papua, the first two from Kavieng diocese, New Ireland, the first from the Archdiocese of Port Moresby, in the first three from Kiribati, Pacific Union.           

3 March, 1877

During his visit to Rome, Father Chevalier, Jouet and Miniot are received in audience by Pope Pius IX at 18:30. The Pope signs two requests, the second which is an apostolic blessing the Daughters of Our lady of the Sacred Heart.

4 March, 1973

Father John Durkin MSC, Ireland, appointed Bishop of Louis Trichardt/Tzaneen, ordained at Dwars River, South Africa.

5 March, 1869

Pope Pius IX grants the Decretum Laudis to the MSC Congregation.

5 March, 1877

During a stay in Rome, Father Chevalier met Don Daniel Comboni, founder of the Combonian Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus  and pro-Vicar of the mission of Central Africa, who had consecrated his large Vicariate to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart on 8 December, 1875.

5 March, 1898

The Vicariate of New Pomerania, PNG, interested to the MSC, is now entrusted to the German MSC Province.

6 March, 1974

Father Paskalis Harjasoemarta MSC, Indonesia, appointed Bishop of Purwokerto, ordained at Purwokerto.

7 March, 1888

Opening of the first MSC House in Austria, and Salzburg-Liefering

8 March, 1869

The Decree of Praise of the MSC Congregation is signed by the Congregation of Bishops and Regulars.

9 March, 1906

The first Superior General of the MSC Sisters is elected. She is Sister M. Franziska Fleige.

10 March, 1865

The 'Pious Union', a movement centred on devotion to the Sacred Heart and founded by Blessed Louise Thérèse de Montaignac de Chauvance (1820-1885), becomes a Third Order of the MSC Congregation. It is a Third Order for women without vows and is associated with the MSC Congrégation until March, 1874.

10 March, 1933

Death of Father Jules Vandel, first Novice Master and first superior at Kensington, Australia.

10 March, 1989

The first three Peruvian Daughters of our lady of the Sacred Heart take their first vows.

11 March, 1942

World War II: Kabuna, Papua: “many aeroplanes in the air this morning. Brother Jean Koewiede is very sick; in the valley there is no more hope for the Carmelite Sister Marie de la Croix.) (To buy a menu, Notebook)

12 March, 1965

The first two German MSC Sisters leave Hiltrup, Germany, to establish a foundation in Korea. They arrive on the 24 March, 1965 and the next day, 25 March, 1965, is the Foundation Day of the Korean Mission of the MSC Sisters.

14 March, 1987

Erection of the South Korean MSC Section, entrusted to the Philippine Province.

15 March, 1824

Jules Chevalier is born in Richelieu, France. The following day he is baptized in the parish church, "Notre Dame", at Richelieu.

15 March, 1886

Father Charles Piperon rents the property at Terloohof at Borgerhout, Belgium.

15 March, 1928

Foundation of the first FDNSC see community in Italy, at Narni.

15 March, 1980

Erection of the Philippine MSC Province. All Dutch confreres working there join the new province.

16 March, 1950

The Irish MSC accept a mission in the Abbatia Nullius of Pietersburg, South Africa. In the same year, the first three Irish MSC arrive there.

16 March, 1966

The first two Brazilian F DNSC leave for Papua.

17 March, 1935

MSC Sisters and a Third Reich injustice story: Mother M. Electa, Superior General of the MSC Sisters, and the Procurator General, Sr. M. Gerberga are arrested by the Gestapo in Hiltrup. They are falsely accused of trafficking foreign currencies by Joseph Goebbels, Minister of the Propaganda of the German Third Reich. Mother M. Electa will be released from prison one year later, on the 18 March, 1936.

17 March, 1943

Three FDNSC, three MSC from Manus, PNG, eight MSC from New Ireland, PNG,
together with 39 SVD missionaries and Holy Spirit Sisters, are killed at sea between Kavieng and Rabaul, PNG, during the Japanese war in the Pacific.

18 March, 1878

Public audience of Pope Leo the XIII who talks from moment to Father Chevalier personally.

18 March, 1900

Father Alain de Boismenu, appointed coadjutor to Bishop Navarre, is ordained Bishop in Montmartre, Paris.

18 March, 1936

After a year, Mother M.Electa, Superior General of the MSC Sisters, returns from prison.

19 March, 1866

Father J-M.Vandel starts his year of MSC “novitiate”.

19 March, 1964

First canonical erection of an MSC House in Indonesia, at Jakarta.

19 March, 1967

Erection of an MSC Section Texas and in the Southern States of the USA, entrusted to the Irish Province.

20 March, 1886

Father Hubert Linckens, MSC, who becomes historical founder of the MSC Sisters,
is ordained at s'Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.

21 March, 1892

Fathers Chevalier and Piperon visit Barcelona and Canet del Mar.

22 March, 1932

The Apostolic Prefecture of Coquilhatville, Zaire, becomes an Apostolic Vicariate, Msgr E. Van Goethem MSC appointed Apostolic Vicar.

23 March, 1932

Shiquian, China, becomes a ‘Mission sui iuris:, entrusted to the German MSC.

24 March, 1965

The first MSC Sisters arrive in Korea.

25 March, 1859

Construction commences on the Basilica in Issoudun.

25 March, 1874

Approbation of the Archconfraternity of Perpetual Worship.

25 March, 1881

The Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith officially offers the MSC the two Vicariates of Melanesia and Micronesia.

25 March, 1882

Marie Louise Hartzer enters the FDNSC Congregation in Issoudun after a lengthy period of discernment.
The once thriving new community established in 1874, by 1882 does not show signs of growth, in fact, quite the opposite!
However, Marie Louise is very much attracted by the charism of Jules Chevalier so she decides to enter the small community.
She becomes the First Superior General.

25 March, 1901

First Profession ceremony of 11 MSC Sisters in Hiltrup, Bishop Louis Coupe presiding.

25 March, 1918

Centenary, 1918-2018
Foundation of the Congregation of the Handmaids of the Lord in Papua New Guinea by Monsignor Alain de Boismenu.

25 March, 1977

Foundation Day of the Indian Mission of the MSC Sisters.

25 March, 1955

Archbishop Carboni opens new Regional Junior Seminary for the eight vicariates apostolic of PNG. Australian staff, Father Kevin English MSC, first Rector.

25 March, 1967

Arrival of the first two MSC, island, in Venezuela: Fathers Donohoe and Moran arrive at Caracas.

25 March, 1977

Foundation Day of Indian Mission of MSC Sisters.

27 March, 1878

Father Chevalier is present at a meeting of the Roman Archconfraternity of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. He leaves Rome for Issoudun that same day.

27 March, 1949

Father Alfonso Ungerelli MSC, Italy, appointed first Prelate Nullius off Pinheiro, ordained Bishop at San Paolo, Brazil.

28 March, 1898

From March 22 to April 6, Father de Boismenu makes a dangerous journey from Yule Island to Thursday Island via Cooktown: rough sea, the main sails are lowered, water enters the ship, the captain is terrified. On March 28, he writes: “terrible night. We pass the coral reef at 2 p.m..”

28 March, 1937

Father Heinrich Kellner, MSC, from the North German Province dies in captivity in China.

29 March, 1922

Rome: the MSC Generalate moves from Porta Pinciana to Via Balbo 1.

29 March, 1938

The name of the diocese of Victoria-Palmerston, Australia, is changed to diocese of Darwin.

29 March, 1940.

The Prelature of Pinheiro, Brazil, his entrusted to the Italian MSC Province.

30 March, 1904.

Father M.Neijens becomes the first MSC to enter Dutch New Guinea, Irian Jaya, Indonesia.

30 March, 1911

The first FDNSC Sisters establish themselves in the Netherlands at Waalwijk.

31 March, 1902

Mission appointment of first 12 MSC Sisters by Father H. Linckens MSC to the Marshall Islands and New Pomerania, New Britain, PNG.

31 March, 1933

Arrival of the first MSC sisters in Shiquian,, China.

31 March, 1950.

Agreement signed between Father Provincial Aidan Breene, Australia, and Monsignor Matsuoco, Bishop of Nagoya, concerning Mission in Japan.

31 March, 1968

The first FDNSC Sisters arrive in the Philippines, after a few days, establishing themselves in Munoz, Neuva Ecija.

MSC acknowledgement of women working with us on International Women’s Day

International Women's Day is observed annually on March 8, all around the world. It is a day to reflect on and celebrate the social, political, economic, and cultural accomplishments of women.

We take the opportunity to remember all the women who have contributed to the life of the Province, from Mary Agnes Finn of Randwick, editing the Annals in the 1890s, so many through the decades, our OLSH and MSC sisters and the Laity of the Chevalier Family.

Today, some acknowledgement of some of those women working in the Province:

Treand House

Finance: Joan Fernando

Safeguarding, Meta Jackman, with Anne Marie Snelling

Spirituality Centres, Colleges

Anne McAtomney, Chevalier Institute, Director

Clare Shearman, Heart of Life Centre for Spiritual and Pastoral Formation, Director

Rachel Francis-Davies, Daramalan College, Principal

Sacred Heart Monastery, Kensington

Catherine Molihan, Aged Care

Parish formation team  

Marian England  

Narita Perotta

Chevalier Family

Philippa Murphy, and our OLSH Sisters, Provincial

Tess Veenker, and our MSC Sisters, Provincial

Alison McKenzie, Laity, General Secretary

And all those women working in our parishes and schools today.

DRIVE-AWAY DOLLS

US, 2024, 84 minutes, Colour.

Margarette Qualey, Geraldine Viswanathan, Beanie Feldstein, Joey Slotnick, C.J.Wilson, Colman Domingo, Pedro Pascal, Bill Camp, Matt Damon.

Directed by Ethan Coen.

This is the first film made by Ethan Coen without his brother, all. Joel Coen had also worked by himself with his version of Macbeth, starring Denzel Washington and his wife, Frances McDormand.

The Coen Brothers have always made films which can be described as offbeat, comic, rye, ironic, with particular perceptions and observations on American society.

This film could be described as a caper, with violence, especially with its opening and a cameo by Pedro Pascal nervously in a diner, clutching a case, confronting the owner, pursued, decapitated and the case stolen. This certainly offers an ironic tone. And the setting is 1999.

The film then changes tone quite completely, sex and sexuality, lesbian sex, frank, explicit, descriptions, language, and this continuing throughout.

There are two central characters, Jamie, Margaret Qualley, vivacious, from Texas, exuberantly extrovert (but many criticising her broad Texas accent as unreal, over the top), in a relationship with a policewoman, Suki, Beanie Feldstein. We are also introduced to a rather prim Marian, Geraldine Viswanathan, working in her office, her co-worker flirting but she looking severe, correcting his vocabulary. She is later seen reading Henry James the Europeans throughout the film. Jamie and Suki breaking up, a point of contention a small dog who will reappear throughout the film.

Marian has decided to travel to Tallahassee and Jamie decides to travel with her, going to driveaway company with the manager, Bill Camp (and a joke about his name, Curly and their being forward in addressing him but this only having just met him), then thugs turn up for the car which is transporting the case seen at the beginning of the film as Well Is the head of the victim. So, caper, and pursuit. The two thugs, in their characters, in their interactions and behaviour, the moments of violence, one smooth talking and explaining his tactics, reminiscent of the two thugs in Fargo.

And their Chief is played by Colman Domingo, answering to a boss on the phone. On the way, the girls see a poster of a politician wanting re-election, Conservative, values-stances, and he is played by Matt Damon.

Jamie decides that Marian is too buttoned up, takes her to various lesbian sex clubs, encounters with a lesbian sports team, Jamie intruding with a partner into a hotel room, later Marian going for a lonely walk and accosted by the police, having to spend a night in jail.

The two thugs are tracking down the women, misled by the lesbian sports team to go to a remote African-American club, chatting to an old man, finding that have been taken in – and the thugs continuing with the squabbling.

When the girls’car breaks down, they find what is in the boot of the car – not only the head, but the mysterious case contains models of various replica dildoes (Jamie trying one out). Jamie also phoned Suki with some information but is not believed, but finally Suki deciding to come down to Tallahassee.

There are some flashbacks which explain Marian’s sexual orientation, watching a nude bathing neighbour, making a peep hole in the fence…

When the girls are abducted, tied up, interrogated by the Chief, there are some absurd: twists on the plot, one of the thugs going berserk and shooting his partner and the Chief, the girls escaping. They then decide to get $1 million from the political candidate whose replica they have. They confront Matt Damon, then he decides to attack them, masked, but Suki is on the spot, shootout.

Marian finishes reading the Europeans. They have made copies of the candidates dildo, and the desire to go to Massachusetts, this is 1999, where same-sex marriages are available. Happy ending.

Many audiences will turn up to see a Coen film. It may be put off by the initial violence and decapitation. Others might be put off by the lesbian sequences and their explicitness. So, the film is for the broadminded, perhaps a bit more broadmindedly than usual.

CLIMAX 

France, 2018, 95 minutes, Colour.

Sofia Boutella, Romain Guillermic, Souheila, Kiddy Smile.

Directed by Gaspar Noe.

This is a film principally for those who are fans of the writer-director, originally from Argentina but working in France for many decades, Gaspar Noe. For years he has had a reputation as an “enfant terrible”, making an international impression with his 2003 drama of sexual violence, the screenplay working in backwards time, Irreversible. Amongst his other films are the significantly named, Into the Void, as well as the 3-D erotic film, Love.

Climax is not a film for those not interested in experimental content and cinema style and for those who do not know Gaspar Noe and his themes and treatment.

The setting is an unused building outside Paris where a group of young men and women, some black, some white, more women than men, gather for a contemporary dance rehearsal. There is quite some exhilaration about the dancing, the energy, the vitality, the talent. Much of it is filmed from above, offering quite a different impression of dance, pounding music, athletic moves.

When the dancers one for a break, sangria, spiced by LSD (there are angry suspicions but it is not clear who did this), is brought in and most drink it. And this is where curiosity and prurience come in, the director inviting us to share the experience of those affected by the drugs, using all kinds of cinematic techniques, again filming from above, long takes, the lights going out and only the emergency red light staying on (an infernal impression of black and red). At times the camera goes skewiff, lying on the floor, filming upside down (including a written explanation at one stage).

The principal effect of the drug and the trip is bewilderment and anger, scenes of bitter aggression, puzzle, suspicions, men and women behaving badly and stupidly. There is some brutally frank talk about sexual experience. A mother whose son is present in the building locks him in the power cupboard for safety – and then loses the key. As might be expected, there is some erotic passion, but that is only part of the overall experience.

Some have suggested that Noe’s films are not to be watched but to be experienced and there is quite some truth in that. While some of the camera work is inventive, there is a great deal in the latter part of the film where characters are almost indistinguishable, the black and red is too dark, and audience attention being whirled around in the drug frenzy – – but does go on and on.

Idiosyncratically, most of the credits come on in the middle of the first part of the film. At the end, the police arrive, checking whether people are alive or dead, suggesting that however interesting drug experience might be and what it lets loose, in real life, some order needs to be restored.

The title, Climax, then comes up large and in yellow – and out the audience walks into the fresh air to contemplate what they have just been through.