Regardless of whether the viewer is of the Catholic faith or a believer in any religion at all, this is a film about the serious dedication of one's life to any set of profound principles and about the enormous challenges that we can face when we attempt to commit ourselves to what we at first believe are our most important convictions. Seeing this film only in the context of "organized religion", as so many reviewers here have done, truly stifles its universal message. Have you ever attempted to dedicate yourself to any effort or to a way of life that required huge self sacrifice and then discovered that you could not completely fulfill the task? Then, upon this disturbing revelation, you looked closely at those who managed to succeed at accomplishing what you could not do, realizing that they thrived only because they did not believe that they were sacrificing or foregoing anything of importance in pursuing their goals while you obviously did.To me, this distinction was at the core of the struggle that Sister Luke/Gabrielle (Audrey Hepburn) was forced to endure--that is, there mere fact that it was a struggle in the first place. Two very wise physicians, including her father, Dr. Van der Mal (Dean Jagger), and Dr. Fortunati (Peter Finch), recognized that she would not be able to devote herself to her strict order, as required, before she finally recognized this on her own. Her father knew that she would fail at the total obedience that was required of her, and Dr. Fortunati perceptively acknowledged at one point that she just didn't have "it" in her. Her intense hatred of the Nazis allowed her to see the truth about herself.As with any successful film, its artistic triumph is the result of a combination of factors, including the direction of a true master, Fred Zinnemann, and the photography of Franz Planer both in angular, austere Belgium and in the far less restricted jungles of the former Belgian Congo. Zinnemann paced the action well by balancing the highly cerebral, spiritual content against some very dramatic physical scenes, including one involving madness and another resulting in an extremely violent and disturbing murder. Then add the intelligent script of a very serious writer, Robert Anderson (The Sand Pebbles, Tea and Sympathy), an outstanding cast, primarily Hepburn, Finch, and Jagger, who were all terrific, and the powerful musical score of Alfred Newman. Shake it all up and the result is a superb product that I will want to see again and again.Of all of the worthy components here, the one that truly stands out is the performance of Audrey Hepburn. I can understand why this was her favorite among the many, diverse films in which she appeared. Me too!

Years ago, before the CD era, I bought the soundtrack record of "The Nun's Story" by Franz Waxman. One of the best of the old school film composers, Waxman outdid himself with this score - at once intimate and soaring. The grooves are well worn now, but it's still a favourite.The music was just one of the beautifully crafted elements that made "The Nun's Story" such an extraordinary experience.You don't have to be Catholic to feel the power of this film about Sister Luke (Audrey Hepburn), a nun just before WW2 who desires to help others in a troubled world despite inner struggles with her faith. She belongs to an austere order that abhors the sin of vanity above all others. An interesting concept these days when you'd be forgiven for thinking it had actually become a virtue.Fred Zinnemann was a classy filmmaker who believed in filming in real locations, Belgium and the Belgian Congo in this case. The film also has a tremendous sense of spirituality with fascinating sequences of convent and church ritual.Although the crisis of faith suffered by Audrey Hepburn's character forces her out of the order, the sense of people living life on a higher plane comes through with denial of self and service to others their driving motivation.Audrey Hepburn lives and breathes Sister Luke. She looks stunning in her various nuns' habits; clothing it must be said that is designed to do anything but flatter female beauty. She was one of the most radiant stars ever and this is her most luminous role. It was her personal favourite among her movies, and isn't it good to learn that she was such a nice person, considerate to her fellow actors and the crew; just a charmer with everyone. Peter Finch, another star with presence, nails his role as the challenging Doctor Fortunati.I always thought the story was true, but now know that although it is a work of fiction, it was based on the life a woman who did experience the things depicted in the film."The Nun's Story" has a number of scenes that leave a lump in the throat: Sister Luke on the train leaving the Congo, and that deafening silence as she walks away from the convent finally broken by a couple of notes of Waxman's inspired score and the tolling of a bell.The film came out decades before we became aware that some in the clergy had betrayed their positions of trust. One may be tempted to view "The Nun's Story" a little more cynically these days, but I think it simply shows the other side of the coin; those unpublicised members of the church who guided by faith quietly spend their lives helping others.

Enjoyable as well colorful picture about a dedicated religious nurse who attempts to cure troubled people in the Belgian Congo . The melancholy tale from the Kathryn Hulme book dealing with a young missionary working as a nurse during WWII and based on the novel of the same name, that told the story of the real-life "Sister Luke," Marie-Louise Habets . Gabriella (enticing Audrey Hepburn ,the character was suggested for Ingrid Bergman but Bergman herself said she was too old for the role and instead proposed Audrey) is the daughter of an important doctor (Dean Jagger) who leaves the convent as Sister Luke . The movie has opening credits play out over street scenes of Bruges , at over 1,500 years old , one of the oldest cities in Belgium, and at one time, the most important commercial city in the world . In 1939, while the Nazi regime subjugates European Nations Graciella travels to the Belgian Congo , her assignment in the Congo is at a European hospital under the atheist eye of a doctor called Fortunai (Peter Finch). Slowly , Gabriella or Sister Luke heals ills , helps injured villagers and usually prays . But the Nazis rise to power and invade her homeland . Then , she returns Belgium , there questions her religious vocation and her moralizing comes back to haunt her .Director Fred Zinneman struck a correct balance of fine pace and sensitivity in the mesmerizing tale of a young Belgian girl who becomes a religious missionary and is sent to the Belgian Congo to work at a hospital . Finely starred by a luminous Audrey Hepburn as a dedicated nun who subsequently comes to question her vocation , as she is struggling to reconcile her free spirit and philanthropic wishes with the religious rigors ; Hepburn chalked up another hit in this long but always interesting flick based on Kathryn Hulme's novel , being rightly adapted by screenwriter Robert Anderson . Spectacular settings and well staged scenes , in fact , members of the Rome Opera ballet corps were hired to play some of the nuns, and complex convent rituals were literally choreographed for them . This agreeable flick packs an exciting screenplay , thought-provoking drama , fine interpretations and intelligent filmmaking . It's surprising that the movie didn't achieve any of the six Academy Award for which it was nominated ; however , it won NY Film Critics to best actress and director and British Academy gave prizes to best actress and support cast . Casting is frankly well . Good acting by Audrey Hepburn as a beautiful missionary nurse who gains the trust of the locals , not only providing medical care but dealing with African people ; this was one of Audrey Hepburn's favorite of her films and it was also one of her most financially successful . Excellent Peter Finch as a good surgeon , he doesn't quite hit it off with Gabriella at first but soon starts to develop deep affections for her . Furthermore , a nice support cast formed by notorious secondaries such as Edith Evans , Peggy Ashcroft , Dean Jagger ,Beatrice Straight ,Rosalie Crutchley , Ruth White , Barbara O'Neil , Lionel Jeffries , Colleen Dewhurst and Niall MacGinnis , among others . ¨Nun's story¨ consolidated a sub-genre about nuns or religious people in far countries , going on ¨Heaven knows , Mr Allison¨ by John Huston with Robert Mitchum Deborah Kerr , ¨The Sins of Rachel Cade¨ also produced by Henry Blanke and directed by Gordon Douglas with Angie Dickinson , Roger Moore and Peter Finch , too , and ¨A Nun at the Crossroads¨ with Rosanna Schiaffino and John Richardson , among others. Appropriate as well as sensitive musical score by the classic Franz Waxman . Glamorous and evocative cinematography by Franz Planer , though mostly filmed on real African exteriors , in fact , the film was shot on location in Rome, Bruges, Stanleyville and a real leper colony in the Congo . The motion picture well produced by Henry Blanke was stunningly directed by Fred Zinneman. This is one of various and pleasant works , some major and minor successes of his long career as a filmmaker . He was a Hollywood veteran director, directing early movies and a long career until the 80s . With ¨The nun's story¨ Zinnemann chalked another major hit in this overlong but always absorbing tale . After acquiring the rights to Kathryn Hulme's bestselling novel, Fred Zinnemann found that no one in Hollywood had any enthusiasm towards turning it into a film, citing it as being devoid of action , but all that changed when Audrey Hepburn expressed a desire to take the lead role . Rating : 8 , Above average , well worth seeing .

"A tree is known by the fruit that it bears, or a man by his deeds". This quote has been variously attributed to Saint Basil & Jesus sermon on the mount. Whoever or whatever it's original source, no-one can deny its deep meaning & truth. The films directed by Fred Zinnemann attest to his greatness as a movie-maker. "High Noon", "A Man For All Seasons", "The Day Of The Jackal", "Julia" & "The Nun's Story" are all films of the highest quality. Audrey Hepburn must have believed in the serious content & honesty of "The Nun's Story" because she gives easily her finest ever performance as an actress. Gabrielle Van Der Mal (Hepburn) decides as a young woman to become a nun & leave home. Her doctor father (played by Dean Jagger) is terribly upset at losing his most beloved daughter. She is re-named Sister Luke by her convent & eventually serves as a nursing nun in the African Congo. After some years there she contracts tuberculosis. The resident doctor serving there is Dr. Fortunati (Peter Finch) who is both an exceptional doctor & an atheist knows that if he cannot cure her she will have to be sent back home to her Belgian convent. He has come to rely on her tremendously for her nursing skills &, like her father before, hates the thought of losing her. Dr. Fortunati does cure her but she is eventually sent home anyway by the senior nun (Peggy Ashcroft) with a patient for whom only Sister Luke is qualified to tend. Sister Luke is eager to return to Africa but is told by the Mother Superior (Sybil Thorndike) that she must spend some time back in her home convent to renew & refurbish her faith. After meeting her father again for the first time in many years she asks after his welfare. He replies, "Still lonely for you". It is a heart-rending moment but this movie is full of them. Mention must also be made of Franz Waxman's musical score for the film which is just fabulous. When Gabrielle receives her nuns veil to become Sister Luke a glorious crescendo is played like a queen receiving her crown at her coronation ceremony. WW2 has begun & whilst back home in Belgium nazi Germany has conquered & occupied her country. Her father is killed during the furore & her faith has taken a shattering blow. She still believes in god & the Christian faith but she is no longer able to obey the strict rules of her convent & decides she must leave it. The Mother Superior tries hard to dissuade her from going, as does a cardinal, but to no avail. She tells the latter, "Father, if you do not lay my case before his grace (the Pope) i shall do something that will kill me. I shall leave without permission". It doesn't matter whether you are at all religious or not, this is a great movie.