In Holy Days, a trio of nuns take a trip across New Zealand to save their convent from a property developer. Source: Australian Catholics.
They need to retrieve the deeds of their convent, which have lapsed, to prevent the developer taking over.
The nuns are accompanied by a young boy, Brian (Tamati), in search of heaven, grieving his dead mother. The nuns believe they are on a mission to save him, as well as their convent.
The three nuns are well-known to Australian audiences. They are Australian actors Davis (Sr Agnes) and Weaver (Sr Mary Clare), and Margolyes who took out Australian citizenship in 2013 (Sr Luke).
The film is based on a novel of the same name, which is authored by Dame Joy Cowley.
Comedy routines are adopted by the three nuns which convey the message that they are eager to be involved in everything that is going on. They travel in a stolen car, take money, and engage in bribery.
The boy accompanying them is devastated by the loss of his mother and he is looking for guidance and comfort. It is the boy’s need for religious comfort and psychological support that helps moderate possible negative effects of the physical and psychological comedy.
The film’s main appeal stems from a group of seasoned actresses showing that they clearly enjoy working together.
It is a film, however, that projects its appeal in a restricted and loose way. Too often, the crudity of the nuns’ comic behaviour and intent fail to sit comfortably with viewer assumptions about other purposes that might exist in the nuns’ lives.
Review by Peter Sheehan, Jesuit Media
Holy Days: Starring Judy Davis, Miriam Margolyes, Elijah Tamati, Jacki Weaver. Directed by Nat Boltt. 101 minutes. Rated PG (mild themes, coarse language and drug themes).
FULL REVIEW
Holy Days (Australian Catholics)
