Black Narcissus (1947)

Director: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
Stars: Deborah Kerr, David Farrar, Flora Robson
Runtime: 101 minutes

Synopsis: A group of nuns struggle to establish a convent in the Himalayas, while isolation, extreme weather, altitude, and culture clashes all conspire to drive the well-intentioned missionaries mad.

Verdict: Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger are a pair of directors who deserve a place on the Mount Rushmore of filmmakers and that is a hill I’m willing to die on. Their work is as captivating as Hitchcock’s classics, as varied and influential as Kubrick’s projects, and yet they rarely pop up in a conversation that features these gigantic names. “The Red Shoes” is probably their most recognizable film, but “Black Narcissus” is a close second in terms of popularity.

About a group of nuns’ attempt of establishing a convent in a secluded village located at the base of the Himalayas during the British Raj, the movie merges themes of isolation, cultural clashes, and, most importantly, religion to offer a captivating study of its main characters. What matters here is not the destination, but the journey that these nuns partake. It’s a psychological journey that exposes the flaws in their beliefs, the imperfections in their ways of living. It’s a journey that argues that nature eventually triumphs over faith, that so-called “sins” cannot be brushed over or ignored because they will sooner or later take control of one’s mental state, driving them to insanity, if not worse.

“Black Narcissus” subtly and organically addresses all that while at the same time serving as a criticism of colonialism by western forces, and most notably Britain. It’s both of its time and ahead of it, making the watch eternally relevant. And, as if all that wasn’t enough, it features exquisite transitions, layered performances, a magnificent score, and some of the most beautiful set designs I have ever seen, with painted backdrops filling the studio in which the entire shoot took place. This is the type of film that requires some reflection time afterward and maybe a rewatch to fully take in. It’s that good.

FINAL GRADE: 9/10