Black Narcissus

[2Rebecca]

Is going too OTT on the woo and melodrama for my tastes.

@the80sweregreat

Mr Dean is very sexy! The rest is a bit soapy but watchable. I'll stick with it for the scenery.

Yes, this was the main improvement for me from the P and P film, where David Farrar was kind of bandy-legged in small shorts.

@nutmegofconsolation2

Utter bilge.

What an insightful comment.

@Funkypolar

I loved the original film, enjoyed the first episode of this.

Same here!

I think this is going to be more graphic than the film, but an enjoying it so far. DH thought it was slow, but I think it's building atmosphere.

Looking forward to tonight.

Sister Blanche looked so like Rowan Atkinson

She does! But in a nice way.

I recommend it, and her other novel about nuns, In This House of Brede — some people might know her children’s novel The Diddakoi, which was televised by the BBC as Kizzy.

Yes to this, too - especially the House of Brede. Diana Rigg was in that too IIRC. I enjoyed that film. but the book was much better

HELLO Mr Dean

Rumer Godden hated the Powell and Pressburger film so much she vowed she'd never let one of her novels be turned into a film again! She only relented when Jean Renoir persuaded her to let him film 'The River'.

I'm slightly reserving judgement - the atmosphere of oppressed hysteria is very palpable and the scenery is fantastic, although the steps to the bell tower are bringing on vertigo - I'd be moving the bell somewhere less stomach churning.

Rumer Godden also wrote Tottie - The Story Of A Dolls House. Anyone remember the children's tv drama of that, it was so sad!

I really enjoyed it. It was more measured than I expected, and the characters are good. The scenery is amazing, but like someone upthread, I'm a bit eeek about the bell tower steps!
Quite atmospheric.

I enjoyed it too, though as Maireas says not one for the vertigo sufferers.

Btw, if anyone fancies a bit of Diana Rigg nostalgia then a great series from the 80’s (oh the shoulder pads, oh the patterned Princess Di jumpers! Oh the random and unnecessary nipples in the bath!) in which she plays a sinister son obsessed murderer is worth it for the nostalgia alone. On iPlayer atm. Mother Love .

@reprehensibleme

Rumer Godden hated the Powell and Pressburger film so much she vowed she'd never let one of her novels be turned into a film again! She only relented when Jean Renoir persuaded her to let him film 'The River'.

I'm slightly reserving judgement - the atmosphere of oppressed hysteria is very palpable and the scenery is fantastic, although the steps to the bell tower are bringing on vertigo - I'd be moving the bell somewhere less stomach churning.

I know she did, but that doesn’t prevent it being brilliant. A novelist friend of mine hated the film version of her first novel (which turns a subtle study of possible group hysteria into a sort of Blair Witch Project, and deservedly tanked) but liked the big cheque it brought in.

I found it disappointing. Very slow and not scary. Hope it gets better.

@bendmeoverbackwards

I found it disappointing. Very slow and not scary. Hope it gets better.

I don't think it's supposed to be 'scary' is it? I think of it as an erotic psychological drama.

I haven't read the book I must admit, and I was interested to learn [above] that the author disliked the P&P film version.

Blimey just watching the scene as she walked up to the bell tower.

So engrossed. Watched all of the Bridgertons but couldn't get on with it. Normally I love that sort of escapism but everything about it bothered me.

I'm wondering what is says about my current state of mind that I feel a strong affinity with a Mother Superior quietly going mad on a remote hillside of the Himalayas!!! So peak 2020: "We are not allowed to touch here." And the plot: nothing much happens, on one sense, and yet everything is going on internally with these women.

I bought the book and will watch the film too.

@bendmeoverbackwards

I found it disappointing. Very slow and not scary. Hope it gets better.

I think you may have mistaken the genre. It’s a study of group psychology, religious colonialism and stifled desire, not a horror film.

I love it- reminds me of Sigiriya rock in Sri lanka, a death defying climb too, sheer rock with no handrails- and the saucy frescoes.

I thought the film was perfection so decided not to watch the series. Interesting to read the opinions here, though.

I am not persuaded by this, nor is my partner. V confused story, the “woo” seems gratuitous & rather silly.
I know it represents another era, but I am uncomfortable with the cultural imperialism, as is my partner who knows this part of Nepal well. We are not watching the rest.

Palaver

😆 thank you. My first covid-ridden chuckle of the day.

Bit slow so far

OVienna spot on re insanity and lack of touching! Maybe that's why I found it so touching.

Moanranger I think you'll find the nuns don't get a free pass on the cultural imperialism bit...

the steps to the bell tower are bringing on vertigo

I so agree!

I hate heights and couldn't look.

I haven't seen any previous adaptations. Reading the first episode blurb it seemed to be billed as a ghost story. Now it seems that none of the nuns are capable of controlling themselves around a drunken man l get the tension between the nuns, being in an isolated harsh place but didn't enjoy the second episode as much.

I’m still enjoying it, though I am wincing at every banging shutter and door. Tie the windows shut! Ask Mr Dean to put latches on the doors!