The Secret Scripture (2016)

A woman keeps a diary of her extended stay at a mental hospital.

Director:

Jim Sheridan

Writers:

Sebastian Barry (based on the novel by), Jim Sheridan

Stars:

Rooney Mara, Theo James, Aidan Turner

2 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Rooney Mara	...	Rose
Theo James	...	Father Gaunt
Aidan Turner	...	Jack Conroy
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Lady Rose
Eric Bana	...	Dr. Grene
Jack Reynor	...	Michael McNulty
Susan Lynch	...	Nurse
Adrian Dunbar	...	Dr. Hart
Tom Vaughan-Lawlor	...	McCabe
Pauline McLynn	...	Anne McCartney
John Connors	...	Joe Brady
Omar Sharif Jr.	...	Daniel O'Brien
Charlie Kelly	...	Beau
Nika McGuigan	...	Chrissie
Laurence O'Fuarain	...	Detective

Storyline

Roseanne McNulty must vacate the soon-to-be demolished mental institution in Roscommon, Ireland that she's called home for over 50 years. The hospital's psychiatrist, Dr. William Grene, is called in to assess her condition. He finds himself intrigued by Roseanne's seemingly inscrutable rituals and tics, and her fierce attachment to her Bible, which she has over the decades transformed into a palimpsest of scripture, drawings, and cryptic diary entries. As Grene delves deeper into Roseanne's past, we see her as a young woman, whose charisma proves seductive. We learn that she moved to Sligo to work in her aunt's café, fell in love with a dashing fighter pilot, and that a local priest fell tragically in love with her.

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Plot Keywords:

1940s | three word title | female protagonist | female mental patient | irish | 

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Taglines:

At the end of your life, what will you remember?

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for disturbing thematic content, some sexuality and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

The name Joe Brady is the same name as Pierce Brosnan's character in the film "The Nephew" which he produced himself through Irish Dreamtime

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Goofs

When Michael prepares to leave Rose and re-join the war, he dresses in his formal uniform and prepares to go. But he hasn't shaved, which is part of the look of the actor who plays him (Jack Reynor) and not "regulation" for the services during World War II.

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Quotes

Lady Rose: There's a sickness in people that stops them seeing the truth.

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Soundtracks

The Cry Inside
Written by Brian Byrne & Jim Sheridan
Performed by Kelly Clarkson, Brian Byrne & Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra-Sif 309 (as The Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra)
Published by Asamesa Publishing (ASCAP), Soleonthebone Publishing (IMRO) & Songs For My Shrink (ASCAP)
© 2016 Brian Byrne & Jim Sheridan

User Reviews

The never-ending struggle for women in the male dominated world!

This is a surprise film. Almost my favourite. Because I don't know when the last time I wetted my eyes. I'm not ashamed to say that I love sentimental films. This was not like a thorough tearjerker, but it gets there at some point. It was like I have been waiting for such film a very long time, so that I ended up liking it more than I was anticipating.

An Irish-English language film with a wonderful cast. Because of those actors I have watched it, despite it was not promoted big like the Hollywood films. It's not in the mainstream films list. That's why not many people do not know about this film. Rooney Mara's one of the best performances. The remaining cast too had big roles, but was not powerful as hers.

Films has genres, books has genres, but not all of those works converted to each other form works out. This is such a rare genre where both formats triumphs. Watching this film is almost as experience of reading the book. You know those literatures explaining the events, character deeply, emotionally, that's quite matching in this film with beautiful locations and nice background score.

The suspense kept me expecting every moment of my watch. The end twist was not that difficult, but not all the viewers can predict it easily. It is a tale from the first half of the 20th century. But most of it was split into early and the later events. Overwhelmed by the flashback, the film reveals an old and a last woman in a mental asylum to evacuate the building to a new location. So those last moments of her stay in there, she explains why she's refusing to leave.

-xX] There's a sickness in people that stops them seeing the truth. [Xx-

A doctor from another place is now reviewing her case, has to go through her story to understand the situation and act accordingly, that's accompanied by a nurse. So she reveals her secret romance when she was young, when the whole town turned against her. Particularly a young priest. How she had ended up in the mental hospital, and after 40 years, now denying to leave the building. The story ends emotionally.

The film was like the mix of 'The Little Prince' and 'Neverwas'. Because the reality and the other way around were nicely put together. Only it all were told from the grown up's perspective. They are showing something means does not you have to believe it. So it all comes to the final twist, how it ends by revealing what. No doubt if it resembles someone's real life, perhaps in the past, because in the earlier centuries, such fate, particularly for women is so common. That's where it's heart-wrenching.

A perfect title for what it narrated. The older version of the lead role was too well performed. The romance part was short, but mystery extended till the final scene. Overall, the focus given to what to narrate and what not were nicely done. A very satisfying film, glad that I saw it.

I don't know everybody would like it as much I did, but surely worth a try. Since the story was told from a woman's point of view about her struggle in the men dominated world, they might like it better than others. Because, as I know in the recent, the women's empowerment rising to equal men than never before. All I say is, just watch it!

8.5/10

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

Ireland

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 October 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

Tss

Filming Locations:

County Wicklow, Ireland

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$694,981

Company Credits

Production Co:

Screen Ireland, Apollo Media, Ferndale Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.40 : 1 Anamorphic