Rating: 
Summary: The best movie I have seen in many years
Review: Although the story line took place in Australia, at the other end of the world, I could relate to every sister, student, family members, and their friends in this great movie, "Brides of Christ." I was educated by the sisters for twelve years during the 1940's and 1950's. With my Irish Catholic upbringing from my parents, and from the sisters, this movie was so powerful that I felt strong respect for Sister Agnes. Brenda Fricker lived the part of that dedicated sister who had the great love for Christ, and at the same time, she was trying to instill the proper Catholic values in the students before they faced the outside world. Mother Ambrose was an absolutely brilliant lady, and also very human, and had much compassion and love for the sisters and students at Santo Spirito. I felt very sad when Sister Paul made a, what might have seemed, decision in haste to leave to marry the "rebel" priest. However, I was then overjoyed over the way she resolved her situation/problem. I remember vividly all the changes during the 1960's after Vatican II with the mass exodus of the priests and sisters from their religious orders. Oh yes, I felt that Jack, the rebel priest along with many other ex-priests that I so well recall, were proponents of rapid changes, which for most of the conservative Catholics like myself, could and were accepted much more gradually. Therefore, this film had a such a profound effect of me that in between each video session, I felt as though I were involved with each and every character in the story; some of whom I loved, Sr. Agnes, Mother Ambrose, Sr. Catharine, Sr. Paul, Sr. Patrick, and the occasional ones whom I disliked, for instance, the rebel priest. Why did Jack have to get so angry at the church? He remained within it long enough to become accepted and ordained a priest. There were a couple of prissy little missies at the boarding school who reminded me of some of the "popular" girls, and I, as an underdog in my later high school years, had experienced ,and until this day I could never forget their obnoxious antics. I felt compassion for Sr. Philomena who had the most difficulty in accepting the changes. However, I could not quite comprehend the actions of the girls when she appeared with the "purple" hair. When I was in high school during the 1950's, we would never get away with being so rude as to openly laugh like that any of the sisters. The church music and the mystique of that particular time, made me nostalgic of my Roman Catholicism. This film made me come away from it with prayerful thanksgiving at having been privileged to experience knowing similar people in my lifetime. I only rented it, but my plans are to buy it, and I will watch "Brides of Christ" every could of months forever.
Rating:
Summary: The best movie I have seen in many years
Review: Although the story line took place in Australia, at the other end of the world, I could relate to every sister, student, family members, and their friends in this great movie, "Brides of Christ." I was educated by the sisters for twelve years during the 1940's and 1950's. With my Irish Catholic upbringing from my parents, and from the sisters, this movie was so powerful that I felt strong respect for Sister Agnes. Brenda Fricker lived the part of that dedicated sister who had the great love for Christ, and at the same time, she was trying to instill the proper Catholic values in the students before they faced the outside world. Mother Ambrose was an absolutely brilliant lady, and also very human, and had much compassion and love for the sisters and students at Santo Spirito. I felt very sad when Sister Paul made a, what might have seemed, decision in haste to leave to marry the "rebel" priest. However, I was then overjoyed over the way she resolved her situation/problem. I remember vividly all the changes during the 1960's after Vatican II with the mass exodus of the priests and sisters from their religious orders. Oh yes, I felt that Jack, the rebel priest along with many other ex-priests that I so well recall, were proponents of rapid changes, which for most of the conservative Catholics like myself, could and were accepted much more gradually. Therefore, this film had a such a profound effect of me that in between each video session, I felt as though I were involved with each and every character in the story; some of whom I loved, Sr. Agnes, Mother Ambrose, Sr. Catharine, Sr. Paul, Sr. Patrick, and the occasional ones whom I disliked, for instance, the rebel priest. Why did Jack have to get so angry at the church? He remained within it long enough to become accepted and ordained a priest. There were a couple of prissy little missies at the boarding school who reminded me of some of the "popular" girls, and I, as an underdog in my later high school years, had experienced ,and until this day I could never forget their obnoxious antics. I felt compassion for Sr. Philomena who had the most difficulty in accepting the changes. However, I could not quite comprehend the actions of the girls when she appeared with the "purple" hair. When I was in high school during the 1950's, we would never get away with being so rude as to openly laugh like that any of the sisters. The church music and the mystique of that particular time, made me nostalgic of my Roman Catholicism. This film made me come away from it with prayerful thanksgiving at having been privileged to experience knowing similar people in my lifetime. I only rented it, but my plans are to buy it, and I will watch "Brides of Christ" every could of months forever.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best things ever on television
Review: Aside from being a walk down memory lane, since I was in HS at a roman Cath. prep school during the same time as the film, and "our" sisters were very much like the sisters portrayed in the film! I found it fascinating to realize that Australians were dealing with the same issues of social changes and the Vietnam draft that we were! Wonderful writing, great insight, super performances! DO NOT pass this by! Finally, I found the character of Sr. Agnes to be one of the most interesting - when you first "meet" her, esp for those of us who may have had a teacher like her, you understand Catherine wishing she were dead! As the film goes on, you begin to understand her point of view, her capacity for compassion and the breadth of her mind - she is a superb theologian! The other characters are equally fleshed out and real.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Production
Review: Brides of Christ is one of the best Mini Series on the Catholic Church ever made. Set in Australia around the time of Vatican II, it shows the effects the changes Vatican II unleashed and how individuals in and out of the church reacted to these changes. The entire cast is nothing but talent. Irish actress Brenda Fricker is perfectly cast as sister Agnes the hard-line old guard nun and Josephine Byrnes is the perfect rebel nun. You will also be treated to early performances by a young Naomi Watts and Russell Crowe. But Fricker and Byrnes together steal the whole mini series. You must own this Mini Series for your collection !
Rating: 
Summary: Real feeling about real life - the characters are human.
Review: Brides of Christ is one of the most exceptional dramas about "real life" in a convent that I have seen yet. It portrays "sisters" as real people who struggle with real issues from the teachings of the Catholic Church to power struggles and bouts with their own humaness through love and sadness. It focuses on two sisters who have a great love for one another through friendship and circumstance yet who are seperated soon after their entering so as not to inhibit their formation. They are eventually reunited on their journey... Sr. Catherine cannot come to grips with the teaching magesterium of the Church and speaks out against it despite much opposition from within. She has a true love for others and wants what is best for them but cannot reconcile herself to a Church and religion she loves and yet cannot come to terms with. Sr. Paul loves the Church and God with all of her heart and seems to fit right in to convent life with a sense of humor that seems able to overcome anything. She is accepting and loving yet finds herself at odds with the community after falling in love with a "rebel" priest. This movie is set during the Vatican II era where there is much change and tension within the Catholic Church. It is done within the settings and confines of the convent and within a Catholic Boarding School. The Catholic students within the movie play a very substantial part in the lives of the sisters and help to bring an understanding of those tumultuous teenage years. Brides of Christ took great strides in trying to bring reality to the lives of those which remain hidden to most of the world. The only exception is that it was misleading in promoting a correct view of how the teachings of the Church come about and how and why they should be accepted. One can pick this up if they are a well instructed Catholic but if one is not they can easily be led astray. All in all the movie was just a great movie with real situations and real characters.
Rating:
Summary: Brides of Christ is the best television you'll ever see.
Review: Ever since I viewed Brides of Christ on A&E six years ago, I have thought about this magnificent miniseries with wistful longing. How happy I am to finally own it. Everything about it rings true, and I have never been so fully devastated by anything on TV. The friendship between Sisters Katherine and Paul is tender and lovely.
Rating:
Summary: Sister Madly
Review: For all you Russell Crowe faniacs (and must confess I'm guilty too), please be advised that he makes his relatively brief appearance as big bro Dominic during the second tape but don't let that keep you from watching this wonderful mini series in it's entirety. The unfolding stories portrayed within this extraordinary community of women will captivate.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: I first watched this movie when it was on A&E and just after I had done a social science seminar on changes in women's religious orders after Vatican II. The film is entertaining as well as educational and provides a wonderful overview of the turbulant, exciting times of the 1960s and how whose times effected the Catholic Church. I own Brides of Christ and have watched it many times. Highly recommnded for anyone who enjoys a good story whether you are religious or not.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: I first watched this movie when it was on A&E and just after I had done a social science seminar on changes in women's religious orders after Vatican II. The film is entertaining as well as educational and provides a wonderful overview of the turbulant, exciting times of the 1960s and how whose times effected the Catholic Church. I own Brides of Christ and have watched it many times. Highly recommnded for anyone who enjoys a good story whether you are religious or not.
Rating:
Summary: Brides Of Christ Review
Review: I have serched for this film since i was 12 years old(when i saw it on A&E), im now going on 21. This movie is wonderful. Itll make you cry itll make you laugh. Its definalty worth checking out. do not pass this movie up...
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