Black Narcissus: A Review

Fig 1. Black Narcissus Poster (1947)

Black Narcissus (Powell, Pressburger, 1947) is a film about a group of Nuns that travels off to a secluded area in the Himalayas to spread the word of their covenant to the locals. However, whilst they are there, some of the Nun's more animalistic and sexual desires come to light, as they learn to adapt to their vibrant yet lonely surroundings.

Something that Black Narcissus does well is provide a sense of scale and loneliness within the film. This is done very cleverly through the use of Matte Paintings on glass panels, which were positioned in front of the camera. Probably the best example of this is when one of the Nuns has to ring the bell outside the Convent. It appears to be on a very precarious and sheer cliffside, however, the drop in reality is only a few feet. Here is an example of how this was achieved using the Matte Painting technique:

Fig 2: Black Narcissus Before & After (1947)

"The mattes were by legendary British painter Walter Percy Day, another regular collaborator of Powell and Pressburger. Their work is both luxuriously detailed and extremely assertive. The most memorable use of these paintings is the famous shot of the drop down from Convent’s bell, which hangs just next to the edge."

-Walber (2016)

The films' matte paintings are some of the most impressive and recognisable mattes to come out of that era of cinema. There are many other occasions where the matte paintings are used seamlessly with the rest of the footage, such as the wide panoramic shots, giving the Convent a sense of isolation in the vast, rich landscapes.

Fig 3. Black Narcissus (1947)

One thing Black Narcissus did, that was extremely uncommon during the time period this film was released, is doubt/challenge people's belief in the Christian Faith. Throughout the film, there is an Agnostic character by the name of "Mr. Dean", who is effectively the Nun's liaison between the natives and themselves. He tries charming the women of the Convent, effectively luring them away from their faith. He is what tips Sister Ruth, the more vivacious one of the Nuns, over the edge, whether intentionally or not. She deserts the Convent, to go looking for him, to be with him. His charms almost work on Sister Clodagh, the Sister Superior, and although she has flashbacks to her former life and lover, something that obviously indicates her faith and devotion to the Convent is not as strong as it used to be, she is able to resist his temptations.

Along the course of the film, Mr. Dean begins to grow fond of Sister Clodagh, begins to care for her. He even, at one point, gives her a small nudge back in the direction of the church when she is unsure of what actions to take:

Sister Clodagh: Well I really don't know what to do.
Mr. Dean: What would Christ have done?

-Kerr & Farrar (1947)

Fig 4. Black Narcissus (1947)

Something that Black Narcissus does similarly to some films (such as The Shining [Kubrick, 1980] or 2001: A Space Odyssey [Kubrick, 1968]) is the magnitude in which it portrays this sense of alienation and loneliness. The wide, expansive shots of the Convent combined with the slow descent into madness some of the Nuns experience drives home how deeply they are being affected by their surroundings. Even though they are surrounded by each other and by the people they have come to teach and convert, several of the Nuns end up in their own little world, separate from the others. Like Sister Philippa, who ends up being so enraptured by the sky and her surroundings that she replaces all the food in the garden with flowers. Small things like this show a more realistic, gradual descent into madness.

Fig 5. Black Narcissus (1947)

Bibliography:

• Kerr, D. & Farrar, D. Black Narcissus (1947) Directed by Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger [DVD] United Kingdom: The Archers, Independant Producers
• Walber, D. (2016) The Furniture: Black Narcissus's Maddening Matte Paintings [online blog] At: http://thefilmexperience.net/blog/2016/5/23/the-furniture-black-narcissuss-maddening-matte-paintings.html (Accessed on 08.01.2017)

Illustration List:

• Figure 1: Black Narcissus (1947) [Poster] At: http://assets.flicks.co.nz/images/movies/poster/70/70afbf2259b4449d8ae1429e054df1b1_500x735.jpg (Accessed on 08.01.2017)
• Figure 2: Black Narcissus (1947) [Before & After Image] At: https://i.imgur.com/z107PfS.jpg (Accessed on 08.01.2017)
• Figure 3: Black Narcissus (1947) [Film Still] At: http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/709071/27037579/1463947079430/black-narcissus-model.png  (Accessed on 08.01.2017)
• Figure 4: Black Narcissus (1947) [Film Still] At: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/1d/d6/ba/1dd6baec2b90d28613a3c832c5226b8f.jpg (Accessed on 08.01.2017)
• Figure 5: Black Narcissus (1947) [Film Still] At: http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/709071/27037581/1463947356343/black-narcissus-philippa.png (Accessed on 08.01.2017)