The Nun's Story, not mine

Back in 1980 I remember catching The Nun's Story(1959) on either WTBS or WGN. Being raised Catholic and attending Catholic school, I was happy to see the beautiful Audrey Hepburn in the role of Sister Luke. I had seen Sabrina and fallen in love with Audrey. I wanted to walk like her, look like her, speak like her. I too wanted the transformation Sabrina had in the movie so I got my hair cut short. I looked  like Sal Mineo and it still smarts to recount the day I was placed in the boys line, "accidentally when I was still under the delusion that I was Sabrina/Audrey. At the time, my school, Sacred Heart Academy still had several nuns teaching and a few of them still wore full habits. I loved how neat and clean the nuns always looked and to this day I still have a deep appreciation for crisp whites, navy blue, grey, black and pale blue. I often put those colors together and feel a bit like Sister Mary Edwards or Sister Stephan Jane but a nice red lipstick makes all the difference.

I was very impressed with this film when I first saw it, I was nine years old. By that age we had all heard about "the calling" because we had all at one time or another had been exposed to that Q&A at school and had asked a nun or brother why they chose to do what they did. Nuns, brothers and priests were all very mysterious to us and we'd ask them if they were ever "normal" like us. We'd ask them if ever wanted to get married and that whole marrying God was always hard to wrap our heads around. So watching The Nun's Story was really answering a lot of questions. Everything the nuns ever told us was shown in that movie, how they left their parents, married God, got their hair cut, all the praying.

As Gabrielle van der Mal became Sister Luke I was inspired to become a nun as well. As the movie progressed I do remember thinking I just couldn't but was so into the drama I continued to immerse myself in that idea.  I just wanted to be Audrey Hepburn and watched how she struggled with every obstacle. She even turned down Peter Finch and I have to admit that at nine years old, I knew you shouldn't turn down Peter Finch, what a sacrifice. I was relieved when Sister Luke turned in her habit and walked out of the convent. I no longer felt "the calling".

I was happy to discover Breakfast at Tiffany's later and planned on moving to NYC when I was old enough. I watched The nun's Story again recently and appreciated what a great movie it truly is. I have  wondered, since I last saw the film, how many Catholic girls felt like becoming nuns during the movie and felt so relieved when angel faced Audrey left her habit behind.