Rolling: Philomena

From The Mirror: The real Philomena and Judi Dench.

H. out in NYC working at a party writing one-minute novels....Figgy watched Punch so I could sneak out to the movies by myself. I loved "Philomena," starring Judi Dench as an older Irish lady who, as a girl, was sent to a convent when she got pregnant. The nuns let the young ladies suffer loudly [for all to hear] during childbirth, saying it was their penance. That part was really creepy. The juxtaposition of the nuns' punitive, sexless sensibility and the innocence, somehow, of the unwed mothers. Women against women....sad. Purity  against lust--yet somehow the unwed mothers seemed purer at heart than the steely sisters. Sterile against fertile.

Phil was forced to work in the dreary convent laundry and got to see her baby boy one hour a day until he was sold to a wealthy couple from America. It's based on a true story. So enthralling. Surprise ending. Also, as a reporter, I found it fascinating, as Philomena hires a journalist to help her find her long-lost son. Now want to buy the book it's based on. And still really want to go to Ireland one day.

As a Catholic who has long struggled with the sexuality/purity conflict, I hung on every word and image. Powerful film. It may change my life.

Good night.

TCOY

1. Boot camp in the dome.
2. Made slow-cooker grits. Plan to have for breakfast tomorrow.