Scanialara You won't be disappointed!

Colibel Terrible acting, screenplay and direction.

Stellead Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

Brainsbell The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.

Aadam (aadamhgafar-68237) An order of five nuns are given orders to repurpose an old concubine palace and establish a convent high in the mountains of the Himalayas. The sisters of the order soon find troubles as the oppressively isolated atmosphere of the convent takes its toll on them.The film takes on a unique atmosphere of constricting loneliness through various methods; the mountain-top convent is given an ethereal, other-worldly effect to it, which is emphasised through the use of painterly backdrops, this fairytale-esque escapism soon gives way to the distinct horror-movie feel that slowly seeps in as the runtime ticks by, and the central theme of repressed desires and their tendency to resurface produces a pervasive sense of unease that only gains momentum as the movie progresses.This uneasy atmosphere lends itself well to the plot, which centres on the character Sister Clodagh, however, there are some confusing turns that the story takes as well as some unresolved or nonsensical plot points. For a movie with such a tight set of characters, it seems odd that there is still some fat to be trimmed in this area, entire characters and their subplots serve no purpose other than to be used as awkwardly placed plot devices to further the story in an attempt to emphasise the themes of the film. It is not successfully done and the movie suffers for its rather lazy plot that is largely held afloat by the performances of the cast.Black Narcissus' unique tone, underscored with a bubbling atmosphere of repressed emotions makes for a tense viewing, and while the occasional lazy shortcut taken by the plot is an annoying distraction, this eerie ambiance and the compelling performances of the cast result in very good final piece.

mark.waltz This is one of the most beautifully filmed motion pictures ever made, filled with color in describing a colorless life. It isn't their work: its where they work, high atop in the Himalayas. The young nun Deborah Kerr is made the head of this nunnery, the youngest ever in her order, and she finds a challenge in dealing with each of those under her charge. Then there's the local villagers, loyal to the Buddhist priest and upset by the infiltration of western culture. If Kerr found life with the king of Siam an ordeal, what she finds here is a key to the door to madness.The troubled nun played by Kathleen Byron gives her the most trouble, falling in love with one of the locals (David Farrar) and getting more jealous thanks to Farrar's growing friendship with Kerr, unbeknownst to Byron completely innocent. The other nuns are minor issues, although the hardworking Flora Robson finds a bit of the truth as she reveals that long forgotten feelings which she had long suppressed were coming back into her emotions.The future star of "Guys and Dolls" and "Elmer Gantry", Jean Simmons, wears dark makeup as a native Indian girl who speaks not a word but through seductive eye movements declares her list for student Sabu. He is obviously seduced by her staring at him from underneath a chair lustfully, and the temptation grows in a way that I'm surprised got past the censors.It's the wind, high altitude and smells of the Himalayas that are blamed for the sudden neuroses and psychosis that the nuns have to deal with. They all become too distracted by their inner struggles as humans which makes their vows seem impossible to fulfill. Only after the horrifying twist at the end (quite tense to be watch, especially on a big screen with this glorious color) are the nuns able to get back to their priorities. Sabu's observations about Jesus Christ taken lightly make you think too, showing that even other cultures focusing on learning more about the world around them can see the beauty in his simple words that many Christians twist into ways that turns off many others.

Alex da Silva Actually, watching the nuns in this film cook sausages would have increased the entertainment by a factor of 37. We needed to see some sausage cooking. Nothing happens in this film. What a boring waste of time the whole experience is. Basically, some nuns take over a derelict house high in the Himalayas in an attempt to provide teaching and medicine to the local community. Does this interesting plan work? I felt a bit disappointed in that I had bought this film on the recommendation of other reviewers. So, I'm here to redress the imbalance of those who have given nothing but praise for this snorefest. The film is filled with camp, over-acting nonsense, especially from Sister Kathleen Byron (Ruth) and caretaker May Hallatt (Angu). They put this film straight into the camp comedy genre. And what a total waste of Jean Simmons - she is coloured in brown and given no dialogue! This is one film that definitely needed some explosions, a car chase and some random nudity. You know, naughty nuns, that sort of thing. Be prepared for a very slow journey with a predictable ending. If you can't guess the ending early on, then may I suggest you go and join your local nunnery as this film has clearly been too over-stimulating. You must have been gripped. My recommendation would be to definitely watch a cookery programme over this tosh. Time for some sausages.

dougdoepke This is a spellbinding movie that has haunted me for years. No other film in my sixty- odd years of viewing has so affected me. There is, beyond the obvious tangibles of superb artistry, an intangible quality that continues to elude me. Maybe it's that last scene of departure - the man framed against the mountain, the raindrops evanescing from the leaves, the procession passing into the mist. I know something has passed, yet something remains. But what? I know now that the movie is to be experienced, not decoded, a case where the figurative whole becomes a sum greater than any of its truly astonishing parts. The result projects that rarest of film qualities—an aesthetic that transcends artistry. Someone once observed that strange things happen when the practical mind of the English encounters traditional mysticism of the East. Strange and sometimes wonderful things, it should be added.