Nunnan (2007) User Reviews

529th Review: Award winning documentary on a complex subject

[intelearts · 8/10 · 7 February 2013]

This was named documentary of the year in 2008 by the Swedish Academy and it is a fascinating and non-judgemental insight into religion and the choices humans make. 18 yr old Marte comes from an deeply Catholic family and decides to become a nun in the Carmelite order - the strictest order.

What makes this fascinating is firstly it tries hard to maintain an independent viewpoint and lets the protagonists simply state their stories. We, as viewers, cannot quite determine if its a self-made choice (Marte will never leave the cloister) or a result of her upbringing and so on. From a sociological viewpoint it really does strive to hold to the essence of what a good documentary should do - that is tell with as little influence and interference as possible.

At only an hour long The Nun delivers a heavy hitting impact - we see a young woman who is to all extents and purposes fulfilled, happy, content, in living for others - and this raises questions about our own materialism, but also, about her total sacrifice.

All in all this is an excellent documentary that will, of course, be vilified and praised by those who see only the religious phenomenology. It is probably better viewed as a fascinating and rare insight into a social process that we would otherwise never see.

Beautiful Story!

[dldfw · 30 March 2011]

I loved this documentary. It is such an enlightening window into the lives of those who devote their entire being to prayer.

This young woman loves God so much that she made the choice at such a young age to devote her entire life to pray for others during a time when so much prayer is needed. It's not often we get to see intimate details into the the lives of nuns such as what this documentary brings. I disagree with the other reviewer that she is a slave. The young girl made a choice and she can leave anytime she wants. No one forced her to go to the convent nor is forcing her to stay. Watch it again - there are only GOOD things going on here.

a slave's life

[xAllchx · 1/10 · 26 May 2009]

i watched that movie at a religion class at school( i am 23 yo) it tells the story of a Swedish girl (Marta) who comes from an extremely religious (christian) family, and decides to become a nun, her family owns a little chapel, notice well that no one else goes into their chapel. Marta lives in some kind of church, and nobody is allowed to go out of it, or talk when they work( which is most of the day), no TV, radio or newspapers allowed, and the worst, during visits, she had to stay behind fences, just like in prison, her family is only allowed to visit her 7 days a year, but Marta said she voluntarily chosen to do that. i found it horrible because these nuns miss every chance in life to get life experiences and stay out of the world, they just need a place to feel home at and belong to, she wont miss anything since her family didn't allow her to watch TV, or read newspapers anyway. id just describe it as a slave's life Note well that Marta says she doesn't regret leaving home and not going out of the church,but then again she says shes afraid everyone at home could forget her. the director was quite fascinated as it seems( which shows she hadn't had much experience in life as well) the nun just seems to have chosen the easiest way of life career, especially that most Swedish teenagers are so confused about their future and what they can do later on. i give it 3/10 maybe should have given it less, but since it was short (1 hour ) its okay.