The New Old Movie Review: ‘The Song of Bernadette’ (1943)

This 1943 basic provides a real reward: a glance into the lifetime of an important saint.

In his Poetics, Aristotle noticed that “Character in a play is that which reveals the ethical goal of the brokers.” In some way, this message has been largely misplaced in at this time’s Hollywood. In truth, one of many biggest issues with many trendy movies is that the heroes onscreen are terribly missing in advantage. The cinematic heroes are sometimes so conflicted and harsh that it’s not possible to root for them. In fact, it wasn’t all the time this manner. In its most interesting moments, Hollywood produced movies that illustrated inspirational characters of ethical goal. And it’s by no means been carried out higher than 1943’s The Tune of Bernadette.

Set in 1858 and onward, the film tells the true story of St. Bernadette Soubirous. Bernadette is born into an impoverished household in slightly city in France. She is sickly and asthmatic, and regardless that she is the oldest pupil within the class, she is the worst. She overtly states, “I’m silly, Sister. I’ve a poor head for research.” Had the scholars voted for the least prone to succeed, Bernadette would have received unanimously.

One afternoon, Bernadette goes to collect firewood, and sees a phenomenal girl in a grotto praying the Rosary. She doesn’t ask the woman her title, nor does the woman volunteer her identification. Days later, Bernadette sees the woman on the grotto once more. This time, the woman asks Bernadette to come back and see her for 15 days straight, however her mom forbids her to — afraid that Bernadette is changing into a laughingstock of the village. Ultimately, her mom relents, and goes along with her, together with dozens of others. Quickly, practically the complete city accompanies her. However nobody can see the attractive girl besides Bernadette.

The authorized authorities endeavor to cease individuals from going to the grotto, however to no avail: nothing will cease Bernadette from going to see the lady she identifies merely as “The Girl.”

In the future, the woman asks Bernadette to scrub in a close-by spring. Bernadette doesn’t perceive, for there isn’t a spring — at the least at first. However after the general public go away in disbelief and embarrassment that they ever believed her story, water begins to gush forth. And miracles shortly start occurring when the individuals use the water. A blind man is restored sight. A paralyzed child, who’s given no medical likelihood of survival, is totally healed.

A number of days later, “The Girl” reveals her identification: “I’m the Immaculate Conception.”

Hundreds of Catholics begin making pilgrimages from different areas. Nonetheless, skeptics abound, together with Bernadette’s personal confessor and some native magistrates who frequently harass Bernadette. Church officers repeatedly pepper her with questions, and stay unconvinced — even within the midst of miracles.

With all of the mockery and insults, even beneath the specter of imprisonment, Bernadette by no means wavers. 

Years after the water first appeared within the spring, Bernadette’s confessor — now a agency believer in her apparition — advises her that she ought to enter the convent. The entire city gathers to see her off, and a younger man who loves Bernadette says a quiet goodbye. The younger man understands that upon getting fallen in pure love with a saint, nobody else will do. The person’s closing phrases to Bernadette represent one of the vital romantic speeches in movie historical past.

On the convent, Bernadette sees a well-recognized spiritual sister who’s overcome by envy. The sister can not settle for that God would permit Bernadette — and never herself! — to be so uniquely honored with a imaginative and prescient of Mary. The nun interrogates Bernadette: “When then, ought to God select you? Why not me?” Maybe that could be a query many individuals puzzled, however dared not communicate aloud.

St. John Damascene taught: envy is “sorrow for one more’s good.” How damaging is envy? Father Vincent Miceli, writer of The Roots of Violence, writes: “The curse of envy, greater than every other sin, has the capability to create a hell on earth.” He observes “envy is an actual type of psychological violence as a result of it shatters interpersonal love.”

But when sorrow for one more’s good creates a hell on earth, then happiness for one more’s good — we’d name that “kindness” — grants a glimpse of Heaven. The sister’s motion from hatred and envy to repentance and kindness is extremely highly effective. It is usually remarkably well timed in our “selfie” world caught within the throes of envy.

Although many readers are already aware of St. Bernadette’s life and demise, I make it a rule to not give away film endings. What I can say is that I first noticed this film after I was about 14 years previous, and it has fostered my affection for St. Bernadette ever since.

This sequence of film opinions has been devoted to serving to mother and father discover these motion pictures that illustrate advantage. Although the movie definitely highlights perseverance in prayer, religion, purity and humility, however so many different virtues are current. Writing of one other French saint, Joan of Arc, Mark Twain noticed her qualities and virtues:

She was truthful when mendacity was the widespread speech of males; she was sincere when honesty was change into a misplaced advantage;
she was a keeper of guarantees when the holding of a promise was anticipated of nobody; …
she was modest, and high-quality, and delicate when to be loud and coarse could be stated to be common;
she was filled with pity when a cruel cruelty was the rule;
she was steadfast when stability was unknown, and honorable in an age which had forgotten what honor was;
she was a rock of convictions in a time when males believed in nothing and scoffed in any respect issues;
she was unfailingly true to an age that was false to the core; …
she was spotlessly pure in thoughts and physique when society within the highest locations was foul in each…”

All this and extra might be stated of St. Bernadette. The screenwriter, director, and lead actress give us viewers a real reward: a glance into her saintly life. The Tune of Bernadette is a household favourite within the Clark home, and can possible change into one in yours as effectively.