Brides of Christ

Daily Variety June 11, 1993 - by Tony Scott

Filmed in Sydney, Australia, by Roadshow, Coote & Carroll Productions, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Radio Telefis Eireann (Ireland) and Channel 4 (England).

Cast includes: Brenda Fricker, Sandy Gore, Josephine Byrnes, Lisa Hensley, Naomi Watts, Kym Wilson, Melissa Thomas, Melissa Jaffer, Philip Quast, Anne Tenney, Simon Burke, Russell Crowe, Harold Hopkins, Caroline Gilmer, Hazel Phillips, Barry Langrish, Pippa Grandison, Petrina Warlow, Brian Rooney, Joy Hruby, Michelle Pettrigrove.

A thoughtful, concerned account of fictional Roman Catholic nuns and their boarding school school during the 1960's, "Brides of Christ" explores the issues of church restrictions and reverential joy in its six-hour, three-episode journey. The telefilm, taking place in Australia and concentrating on three figures whose worlds shift with the stirrings of Vatican II, airs its points of view through a not-so-surprising storyline.

Convent newcomer Diane Fitzgerald (Josephine Byrnes), engaged to be married, drops her fiancee and mother to become Sister Catherine, novitiate at Santu Spiritu School for Girls. Bright and eager, she embraces her vocation despite the starchy, in-charge Sister Agnes (Brenda Fricker).

Developing a friendship with ingenuous novitiate Sister Paul (Lisa Hensley), Sister Catherine teaches English and acts as school newspaper advisor. Specially noticeable: Kym Wilson as naughty, rebellious student Rosemary who gets herself, as they used to say, in trouble.

Student Frances Heffernan (Naomi Watts), upset because her divorced mom plans to marry out of the church, goes into a funk, but Catherine and Paul are there to help her. One of the novitiates falls for an ultra-liberal priest (Simon Burke), while the other struggles with papal doctrine in a world of Vietnam, rock'n'roll, accessbile abortions, growing indifference to discipline, and, of course, free love.

The drama, scripted by John Alsop in the first four hours, Sue Smith for the final two, works well enough; however, "Brides", tending toward soapy, springs few dramatic surprises and boasts stereotypical characters. Program does have its moments, though, with the shining Byrnes and Hensley leading the way and Watts giving schoolgirl Frances both spirit and determination.

The vidpic looks sharp thanks to James Bartle's lensing, and Tony Kavanagh's editing is accomplished.

If the 1991 "Brides" is not the whizbang exploitation series suggested by a warning about "adult themes", it's at least a serious attempt, if not a riveting one,to explore a special world. For alternative programming during the dog days of network TV, it's a winner.

Another look at 'Brides of Christ'

One serious omission in the above article is mention of Philip Quast's performance as lay-teacher Ian MacGregor--which, in my opinion, and despite whatever failings 'Brides' may have, makes the series well worth watching.

Hired on to teach at Santu Spirtu--to the obvious disapproval of some of the Sisters, and the delight of his teenage students--MacGregor arrives his first day wearing a black leather jacket and riding a motorcycle. Unconventional and out-of-place at Santu Spiritu, MacGregor displays an easy rapport with the students, and a biting wit in an encounter with a pompous, visiting politician that confounds and endears him to Mother Ambrose.

It is the portrayal of the friendship that develops between MacGregor and Mother Ambrose that deserves the highest praise. Confused by the changes taking place within the church, frustrated by her never-ending responsibilities, Mother Ambrose is bereft at the death of her father as it means she no longer has a home to return to, 'only this place'. In a sequence that is both poignant and charged, she unburdens herself to MacGregor after he disturbs her solitary swim, her anger at his latest misdeed giving way to tears in the face of his compassion.

Forget the critics. This is a must-see for fans of Philip Quast.

Kate