If you’re looking for a gentle, funny, spiritual movie with an exceptional female cast go see Holy Days.
Movie HolyDays Jacki Weaver Miriam Margolyes Judy Davis Courtesy Of Kismet
Brian Collins (Elijah Tamati) is living In New Zealand, with his father Joe (Craig Hall) and two sisters Beth and Kathy. His loving mother Paula (Renave Tamati) passed away a few years ago, but he misses her terribly and prays each night to be with her in heaven. It hasn’t helped that his dad’s friend Liz (Nat Boltt) is around all the time.
Set in the 1970’s, there are no mobile phones or video games for distraction, instead Brian seeks out the caring embrace of the senior nuns at the local convent. To do so he’s come up with a clever scheme. All he has to do is do something bad every day, so he has to go and ask the nuns for penance.
The rundown convent is overseen by mother superior Sister Agnes (Judy Davis), plus Sister Mary Clare (Jacki Weaver) and Sister Luke (Miriam Margoyles). Having looked after the local community for several decades they are happily enjoying their later years. Meanwhile Father Findlay (Jonny Brugh) who lives in an annex at the convent, spends his time watching televised rugby games and a drink or three.
One day Bishop Chaytor (John Bach) arrives at the convent with another man and Brian sees them talking to Father Findlay. When he hears them talking about shutting down the convent and putting the nuns “in a pasture”, he tells his three friends.
Sister Agnes remembers a former nun-turned-lawyer Patricia Ngata (Tanea Heke) who has the power to stop the Bishop, but she lives in the Southern Alps. The nuns, who have been cocooned in the convent for decades, embark on a quest to save their home. Brian talks his way into joining them, thinking this is the miracle he’s been praying for, a chance to reunite with his mother atop the sacred mountain, Aoraki.
As the credits rolled, I pondered:
- The movie is a gentle, funny ride that looks at grief, spirituality. loyalty and what constitutes a family;
- What a delight to watch these three wonderful female actors in the one movie, each one providing a masterclass in character work;
- The movie was made all the better by watching three female actors with faces that reflect the full lives they’ve experienced;
- The stunning New Zealand scenery was an added bonus;
- The movie is a reminder that there’s “no such thing as gone” when someone passes and that when you owe someone an apology “you shouldn’t make them wait”.
There’s a special morning tea at the Windsor on Aug 6th.
For more information go to Luna Cinemas
