Louis Bonfils 1108552

Black Narcissus
Synopsis

Sister Clodagh, a nun in an Indian Convent, is asked by the Mother Superior to fund a a
school and a medical center in an old palace, in the Himalayas. The Palace was a gift of a
local general, but was originally built to welcome the General’s concubines.

Sister Clodagh leaves with three other nuns. Once arrived, the Sisters are welcomed by Ayah,
the Caretaker of the place, and a British agent, Dean. He is very skeptical about the nouns
presence here, and predicts that the Sisters will leave “before the rain comes”.

The climate in the palace is very tough, and the wind never stops to blow, annoying the
nuns’ nerves. Dean warn the sister that, even though the local population seems happy of
the Sisters arrival, they could turn against them if it appears that there is a death among
the patients.
Later, Dean comes back with a girl, Kanchi. She shames her family because she is unable to
marry. Sister Clodagh agrees to take care of her. But Kanchi falls in love with the Young
General, who Clodagh accepted his presence only because of gratitude toward the Old
General. In the meantime, Sister Clodagh feels more and more attracted by Dean and
becomes nostalgic of her lost love.
Eventually, Sister Clodagh discovers that Sister Ruth has been watching Dean. She tries to
talk to Ruth about her sentiments towards Dean, but Ruth ends up accusing Clodagh to
share theses same feelings.
In Spring, Clodagh realizes that Philippa has plowed the garden exclusively with flowers
seeds instead of the usual legumes and fruits. While asked by Clodagh, Philippa doesn’t
give any answer and asks to leave the palace.
Later this year, a sick baby is brought to the Hospital; Sister Blanche decides to give him
medicine, even though she knows that she can’t cure him. Eventually the baby dies, and
the convent ends up deserted by the villagers. Ignoring what to do, Sister Clodagh requests
the help of Dean. While spied by Ruth, Clodagh reveals to Dean her troubling memories
and her ill being at the palace. Dean suggests her to leave before “something bad
happens”.
The same night, Clodagh notices a light in Sister Ruth’s room. She knocks at the door, and
Ruth open it. She is dressed in a red dress instead of her nun’s uniform. She informs
Clodagh that she has decided to leave the order. Clodagh beg her to differ her leaving to
the morning and decides to stay in the room with her. She eventually falls asleep, and
wakes to see Sister Ruth escaping the nunnery, running straight to Dean’s place.
Here, she confesses her love for him, but he rejects her. Noticing her madness, Dean offers
her to accompany her to the Palace, but then, she refuses and returns back to the convent
alone. There, she sees Clodagh alone in the Chapel, and follows her quietly. As Clodagh ring
the convent’s bell, located right next to a cliff, Sister Ruth tackles her and tries to make her
fall. Eventually, it’s Ruth who falls and meets her fate.
Louis Bonfils 1108552

Due to the previous events, the nuns decide to leave the palace. On their way back, they
meets Dean. After a quick farewell, the rain begins to fall.

According to me, I didn’t like the movie. Even though I recognize that the colors of the movie are
beautiful, and that the atmosphere is really well settled (we can feels the sexual tensions that hangs
in the air, as the wind blows and drives the sisters wild!). I didn’t like the role of Deborah Kerr as
Sister Clodagh but I found Kathleen Byron outstanding as Sister Ruth. I must admit that I was really
disappointed to see her dying!

I didn’t like the movie because I didn’t found the story interesting. I found the plot slow moving, and
quite predictable. But the point of a good drama is not an unknowing ending. As in most tragedies,
the hero’s main flaw is the inaction. Clodagh should have listened to Dean, she should have
recognized her feelings for Dean, but she couldn’t due to her responsabities as a nun.

We can draw a parallel with the British colonization: the movie was released in 1947, just several
months before the Indian Independence! 63 years after its release, the movie remains a masterpiece
in the British cinematography.