Films with a Religious Theme

Sister Act

The film we have seen is Sister Act

Synopsis and Religious Theme

Deloris van Cartier is a singer and showgirl who is also the girlfriend of a ruthless gangster. When she sees him shooting one of his employees in cold blood, she realizes that her own life is in danger. She runs to the police to inform them. Immediately, they place her on a “witness protection programme” so that she can be kept safely until called on to give evidence at trial. She is placed in a convent where she assumes the identity of Sister Mary Clarence, a nun.

The film begins with Deloris as a child at a Roman Catholic school. In these scenes she is shown to be rebellious and not at all interested in the religious education of the school. Her thoughts are in the world of pop music and its heroes rather than the church. It is not surprising, therefore, to find that Deloris finds herself ill at ease in this new role. She is not used to the plain, frugal food, saying grace before meals or observing silence when requested. The early-to-bed, early-to-rise regime she just cannot take. She longs for the social life and entertainment she once knew and so, one night, she slips out to the bar across the road. However, two of the other sisters follow her, and although they briefly enjoy the music and dancing, they are quickly ushered back to the convent. Nevertheless, it is already apparent that even the other sisters in the convent are not entirely happy with their life in an enclosed community. They followed because they thought Sister Mary Clarence was starting some new, helpful work in the community.

On returning to the convent they are caught by the mother superior and, as a disciplinary measure, Sister Mary Clarence is given one task to focus on – to sing in the choir. Mary Clarence has already heard the choir sing; it was dreadful- out of tune, out of time and rooted in the past. The church is practically empty, causing the priest to lament, “We are a small congregation this morning… too many mornings. Something has gone terribly wrong. Where is faith? Where is celebration? Where is everyone?”

When she arrives at the choir practice, the other nuns see an opportunity for change and, very quickly, she is voted in as the choir leader. Of course, she transforms the choir into a harmonious singing group, explaining to them that what they are supposed to be doing is “not quacking but rejoicing.” On their first performance in church the results are amazing, moving from a traditional arrangement to an upbeat version. Although the mother superior is not amused, people are drawn in from the street outside.

After the church service, Mary Clarence is called into the office, where the mother superior makes it quite clear that this style of music is not acceptable in the church. However, Sister Mary Clarence is clearly absorbed by her new project and argues forcefully for change. This newer, entertaining style of worship will “get some butts on the seats.” It is pointed out to her that church is not a theatre or a casino. “But that’s the problem,” protests Mary Clarence. “People like going to theatres and they like going to casinos but they don’t like going to church. Why? Because it’s a drag.”

When the protests reach their height, the priest arrives, having eavesdropped for a moment outside the door. Quickly assessing the situation and seeing that an opportunity for change is in danger of being closed, he congratulates the mother superior for the programme. He is delighted and has not enjoyed Mass as much for such a long time. He cannot wait for next Sunday’s programme and was so excited that people were drawn in from the street. “That music, that heavenly music! Reverend mother, it called to them.”

Seizing the moment, Sister Mary Clarence quickly introduces another idea – that the mother superior wants them to go out into the community and meet the people. The turn around is complete. The nuns are so excited. “There are so many problems we could help with,” exclaims one. “That’s why many of us became nuns.”

Well, as the music continues to develop, and as the nuns become more involved in the local community, the congregation grows, much needed funds are raised to the extent that national media interest is aroused. Eventually the Pope himself, who is due to visit the area, requests a special performance of the choir. Before the great day arrives, the gangsters discover where Deloris is hiding. The Police want to get her out, but, as Mary Clarence, she is so involved in the work, that she does not want to leave. She is kidnapped but the gangsters are reluctant to execute her, because she seems to be a genuinely religious person, prepared to forgive and show kindness. She is eventually rescued in a joint effort by the nuns (led by the previously antagonistic mother superior) and the police.

As we follow the religious ideas through the film it demonstrates the fulfilment that can be achieved by selfless involvement in the needs and problems of others. The nuns felt that this had been part of their original calling. Deloris, a person who previously was inclined just to look out for Number One, found herself being drawn into a way of life that cared for the needs of others and, in so doing, found a satisfaction that she would not give up, even in the face of death. Of course, the musical experience proved to everyone what could be achieved if the church throws off the restraints of tradition and habit.

As an enclosed community, given to prayer and meditation, shut off from the world outside and bound by traditional forms, the convent and church had made little impact on the local area. The nuns had failed to fulfil the goals and ideals of their original calling. When, as the result of Sister Mary Clarence’s innovation of using the music of popular song tunes to convey the Christian message, the church began to communicate with and respond to the needs of the local community, all were rewarded by the joy of the results and the transformation of their lives. Each had found a new and fulfilling way of life that they had not dared to explore before – the local community, the nuns and Deloris herself. The final conversation between the mother superior and Deloris sums it up:
Mother Superior: “I hold you responsible for all this: introducing a lounge act into our convent, utterly disrupting our lives and exposing us all to mortal danger….. Thank you!”
Deloris: “No, no! Thank you!”