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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Philomena: nun too sloppy when it comes to the facts | Philomena: nun too sloppy when it comes to the facts |
| (4 months later) | |
| Director: Stephen Frears Entertainment grade: A History grade: B | Director: Stephen Frears Entertainment grade: A History grade: B |
| Magdalene Laundries were church institutions in which young women considered guilty of licentiousness, unwed motherhood or prostitution were incarcerated and forced into menial labour. | Magdalene Laundries were church institutions in which young women considered guilty of licentiousness, unwed motherhood or prostitution were incarcerated and forced into menial labour. |
| The last laundry in Ireland closed in 1996. | The last laundry in Ireland closed in 1996. |
| People | People |
Journalist Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan) is at an annoying party where people keep reminding him of the fact he has just lost his job as a government adviser. A waitress asks him if he might be interested in the story of her "friend", who after 50 years of silence has just revealed she once gave up a child for adoption. The friend turns out to be the waitress's mother, Philomena Lee (Judi Dench, even more staggeringly good than usual). In real life, Philomena's daughter Jane was a financial adviser, not a waitress. It was another guest at the party who put Sixsmith on to her. | Journalist Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan) is at an annoying party where people keep reminding him of the fact he has just lost his job as a government adviser. A waitress asks him if he might be interested in the story of her "friend", who after 50 years of silence has just revealed she once gave up a child for adoption. The friend turns out to be the waitress's mother, Philomena Lee (Judi Dench, even more staggeringly good than usual). In real life, Philomena's daughter Jane was a financial adviser, not a waitress. It was another guest at the party who put Sixsmith on to her. |
| Mystery | Mystery |
| Sixsmith travels to Roscrea in Ireland, the site of a former laundry at Sean Ross Abbey, with Philomena. Philomena became pregnant outside marriage, ended up in the abbey, and was forced to sign away all rights to her son, Anthony. The last time she saw him, as an infant, he was being taken away by his adoptive parents. The horrific story of Philomena's youthful experience as depicted in the film is pretty accurate according to The Lost Child of Philomena Lee (now reissued simply as Philomena), the book Martin Sixsmith wrote about her story. Many other Magdalene survivors have told similar stories about what they went through. | Sixsmith travels to Roscrea in Ireland, the site of a former laundry at Sean Ross Abbey, with Philomena. Philomena became pregnant outside marriage, ended up in the abbey, and was forced to sign away all rights to her son, Anthony. The last time she saw him, as an infant, he was being taken away by his adoptive parents. The horrific story of Philomena's youthful experience as depicted in the film is pretty accurate according to The Lost Child of Philomena Lee (now reissued simply as Philomena), the book Martin Sixsmith wrote about her story. Many other Magdalene survivors have told similar stories about what they went through. |
| Scandal | Scandal |
| Noticing a signed picture of a Hollywood star on the abbey wall, Sixsmith asks what Jayne Mansfield was doing there. A nun corrects him – it's actually Jane Russell. From the film, you might get the impression Russell adopted a baby from Sean Ross Abbey. She did not. In the 1950s, she and her husband rather informally adopted a son from a woman living in London, but originating in Derry Londonderry, Northern Ireland. There was a major scandal and a court case, after which Russell was allowed to formalise the adoption. | Noticing a signed picture of a Hollywood star on the abbey wall, Sixsmith asks what Jayne Mansfield was doing there. A nun corrects him – it's actually Jane Russell. From the film, you might get the impression Russell adopted a baby from Sean Ross Abbey. She did not. In the 1950s, she and her husband rather informally adopted a son from a woman living in London, but originating in Derry Londonderry, Northern Ireland. There was a major scandal and a court case, after which Russell was allowed to formalise the adoption. |
| Quests | Quests |
The Jane Russell link makes some sense, though, in that large numbers of Irish children were controversially adopted by wealthy Americans in the 1950s. Sixsmith's investigation soon leads in that direction. The book is focused almost entirely on what happened to Anthony; the quest that forms the basis of this film is mostly contained in its 14-page epilogue. Without revealing any spoilers, though, its account of Anthony's subsequent life appears to be accurate. | The Jane Russell link makes some sense, though, in that large numbers of Irish children were controversially adopted by wealthy Americans in the 1950s. Sixsmith's investigation soon leads in that direction. The book is focused almost entirely on what happened to Anthony; the quest that forms the basis of this film is mostly contained in its 14-page epilogue. Without revealing any spoilers, though, its account of Anthony's subsequent life appears to be accurate. |
| Villains | Villains |
| The Catholic Church doesn't come out of this story well however you slice it, but in the book its cruelty seems to be largely in the past. "The nuns were lovely," writes the real Sixsmith, after visiting Roscrea with Philomena. He describes the mother superior as "a friendly, educated woman … who had devoted her life to the care of disadvantaged and disabled people." This doesn't come across at all in the film. Furthermore, the film-makers have resuscitated Sister Hildegarde (who in real life died in 1995, long before Sixsmith's visit) to act as the principal villain and embodiment of all the Catholic Church's most vicious tendencies. This makes for a dynamic and gripping screen story, but it's harsh on the real Sister Hildegarde. Judging by the book, she may well have been a tough old bird – but the film goes a good deal further, especially towards the end, and some modern Irish nuns have understandably been upset. | The Catholic Church doesn't come out of this story well however you slice it, but in the book its cruelty seems to be largely in the past. "The nuns were lovely," writes the real Sixsmith, after visiting Roscrea with Philomena. He describes the mother superior as "a friendly, educated woman … who had devoted her life to the care of disadvantaged and disabled people." This doesn't come across at all in the film. Furthermore, the film-makers have resuscitated Sister Hildegarde (who in real life died in 1995, long before Sixsmith's visit) to act as the principal villain and embodiment of all the Catholic Church's most vicious tendencies. This makes for a dynamic and gripping screen story, but it's harsh on the real Sister Hildegarde. Judging by the book, she may well have been a tough old bird – but the film goes a good deal further, especially towards the end, and some modern Irish nuns have understandably been upset. |
| Justice | Justice |
| In fact, responsibility for the Magdalene Laundries and the appalling privations they imposed on women and children is hardly limited to one person or even one institution. Following a long public campaign, the Irish government finally apologised for its role in the Magdalene system this year. Though the film version of Philomena might have picked unfairly on Hildegarde to be its villain, its fury and grief over what happened to the Magdalene victims is undoubtedly justified. | In fact, responsibility for the Magdalene Laundries and the appalling privations they imposed on women and children is hardly limited to one person or even one institution. Following a long public campaign, the Irish government finally apologised for its role in the Magdalene system this year. Though the film version of Philomena might have picked unfairly on Hildegarde to be its villain, its fury and grief over what happened to the Magdalene victims is undoubtedly justified. |
| Verdict | Verdict |
Philomena is a captivating and deeply affecting account of one family's trauma, but it really has it in for nuns. | Philomena is a captivating and deeply affecting account of one family's trauma, but it really has it in for nuns. |
| More on Philomena | More on Philomena |
| • David Cox: Philomena is a rare portrayal of the Catholic Church's failings • Reviews in the Guardian, Observer and from the Venice premiere • News: Judi Dench brings M back from dead to help Philomena ratings appeal • Oscar predictions: Philomena | • David Cox: Philomena is a rare portrayal of the Catholic Church's failings • Reviews in the Guardian, Observer and from the Venice premiere • News: Judi Dench brings M back from dead to help Philomena ratings appeal • Oscar predictions: Philomena |
| More from Reel history | More from Reel history |
| • Captain Phillips • The Fifth Estate • Diana • Rush | • Captain Phillips • The Fifth Estate • Diana • Rush |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |