From: les@jmdl.com (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2002 #396 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: les@jmdl.com Errors-To: les@jmdl.com Precedence: bulk Unsubscribe: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe Archives: http://www.smoe.org/lists/joni Websites: http://www.jmdl.com http://www.jonimitchell.com JMDL Digest Sunday, September 29 2002 Volume 2002 : Number 396 The Official Joni Mitchell Homepage, created by Wally Breese, can be found at http://www.jonimitchell.com. It contains the latest news, a detailed bio, Original Interviews, essays, lyrics and much much more. The JMDL website can be found at http://www.jmdl.com and contains interviews, articles, the member gallery, archives, and much more. ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Today in History: September 28 [ljirvin@adelphia.net] Today's Library Links: September 28 [ljirvin@adelphia.net] Re: joni songs in classic films ["Mike Pritchard" ] Re: joni songs in classic films NJC [SCJoniGuy@aol.com] Re: [NortheastJonifest] jonifest report, so so late! njc [AsharaProducLLC] Joni in Doonesbury again [Chuck Eisenhardt ] Re: emmylou harris njc ["flopit" ] NJC Slow Dancing [Chuck Eisenhardt ] NJC Hey Sherelle [Chuck Eisenhardt ] Re: NJC Slow Dancing [FMYFL@aol.com] Joni on Ab Fab [Jennymac48@aol.com] Re: NJC Slow Dancing [Murphycopy@aol.com] Re: NJC Slow Dancing [FMYFL@aol.com] Re: A special powful tool [Murphycopy@aol.com] Re: A special powful tool ["Lavieri, Vince [185776]" ] RE: [NortheastJonifest] jonifest report, so so late! njc ["Kate Bennett" ] cnn NJC ["Kate Bennett" ] JB NJC ["Kate Bennett" ] Re: Joni in Doonesbury again ["kakki" ] re:Judy Collins ["mia ortlieb" ] thank you, and raya o. coal - njc ["Marian Russell " ] Re: NJC Slow Dancing ["kakki" ] Re: Judy Collins [colin ] Fw: Bob/Jimmy depends njc ["kasey simpson" ] Re: The Cover of My Dreams ["Amelio Alamo" ] "the magdalene sisters" [Casey Certis-Milby ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 03:43:18 -0400 From: ljirvin@adelphia.net Subject: Today in History: September 28 1968: Joni joined Fairport Convention on the bill of a one-night Festival of Contemporary Song at London's Festival Hall. Jonis first album "Song to a Seagull" is released in the United Kingdom today on Reprise Records. - ---- For a comprehensive reference to Joni's appearances, consult Joni Mitchell ~ A Chronology of Appearances: http://www.jonimitchell.com/appearances.html ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 03:43:18 -0400 From: ljirvin@adelphia.net Subject: Today's Library Links: September 28 On September 28 the following items were published: 1968: "Joni, The Seagull From Saskatoon" - Melody Maker (Interview, with photographs) http://www.jmdl.com/articles/docs/680928mm.cfm 1974: "Yes Rule - Okay!" - Melody Maker (News Item) http://www.jmdl.com/articles/docs/740928mm.cfm 1998: "Playful Aggression" - Daily Telegraph (Review - Album) http://www.jmdl.com/articles/docs/980928dt.cfm 1998: "Taming the Tiger" - Calgary Sun (Review - Album) http://www.jmdl.com/articles/docs/980928cs.cfm ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 08:55:32 +0000 From: "Mike Pritchard" Subject: Re: joni songs in classic films Holly Hunter, of course. Helen Hunt was the cop in Arizona Baby, the Spanish title of Raising Arizona. I always confuse these two. I stand corrected. No sense trying to wriggle out of this one. Same things happens with all them Baldwins, Carradines and Hemingways (except for Ernest; he's the one who played Tracey in Manhattann, right? And the Barrymores, there's a whole other story. mike in barcelona >From: "Mark or Travis" >To: "Mike Pritchard" , >Subject: Re: joni songs in classic films >Date: Fri, 27 Sep 2002 18:15:29 -0700 >MIME-Version: 1.0 >Received: from pop017.verizon.net ([206.46.170.210]) by mc2-f11.law16.hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC(5.0.2195.5600); Fri, 27 Sep 2002 18:15:35 -0700 >Received: from dell ([4.65.128.123]) by pop017.verizon.net (InterMail vM.5.01.05.09 201-253-122-126-109-20020611) with ESMTP id <20020928011532.NSMH1423.pop017.verizon.net@dell>; Fri, 27 Sep 2002 20:15:32 -0500 >Message-ID: <014c01c2668c$896e3170$6501a8c0@dell> >References: >X-Priority: 3 >X-MSMail-Priority: Normal >X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1106 >X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1106 >X-Authentication-Info: Submitted using SMTP AUTH LOGIN at pop017.verizon.net from [4.65.128.123] at Fri, 27 Sep 2002 20:15:30 -0500 >Return-Path: mark.travis@gte.net >X-OriginalArrivalTime: 28 Sep 2002 01:15:36.0679 (UTC) FILETIME=[8CFF4770:01C2668C] > > > Helen Hunt playing 'Paprika Plains' in Campion's 'The Piano'. > > >Uh, I think that would be Holly Hunter, Mike. What a wretched movie that >was! > >Mark E in Seattle - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: Click Here ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 08:13:45 EDT From: SCJoniGuy@aol.com Subject: Re: joni songs in classic films NJC In a message dated 9/28/2002 4:56:22 AM Eastern Daylight Time, ink08@hotmail.com writes: > Helen Hunt was the cop in Arizona Baby, the > Spanish title of Raising Arizona. Nope, that was ALSO Hunter. Maybe you should quit while you're way behind! (Or mention her in "As Good As It Gets" with Nicholson) Bob NP: Jonifest acapella group, "Find The Cost Of Freedom" ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 08:38:08 EDT From: AsharaProducLLC@aol.com Subject: Re: [NortheastJonifest] jonifest report, so so late! njc Alison gushed: <> Alison, thank you for such sweet words. The feeling is 100% mutual, and I want to thank YOU for "unmarrying" Stephen this year. It takes a special woman to move over and make room for the new one, and even say such nice things about her! ;-) Hugs, Ashara ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 09:08:36 -0400 From: Chuck Eisenhardt Subject: Joni in Doonesbury again >Date: Fri, 27 Sep 2002 10:44:30 -0400 >From: Merk54@aol.com >Subject: Joni mentioned in Dunesbury > >Just a quick note to let everyone know that Joni is mentioned in this morning's >Dunesbury strip. > >Jack > And again today! Zonker is talking to the 'surfer dude' after confronting Geffen (Free Man) in his Malibu beachfront home, over the issue of beach access...last two frames were: "They carried me out of the house and dumped me at the low-tide mark. It was awful" "And yet, you must return" 'I must?" "To find out about Joni. A true fan NEVER gives up!" Chucke ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 15:35:41 -0700 From: "flopit" Subject: Re: emmylou harris njc hi >>>>>>Lama wrote >>>>> Emmylou's "Spyboy" tour included Brian Blades kid brother as drummer. I >>>>>>>michael paz replied >>>>>>Does the KID brother have a name (Brady) huh??? If you are gonna promote well thanks for clearing that one up!!! :-) i never quite "got" why it was "brady" in some place & "brian" in others - i thought it was perhaps a nickname :-) >>>>>>>P.S. BTW Darrell Johnson played Bass on the EmmyLou tour. That boy's a bad mutha...... glad to hear someone else thinks so. i first saw him with emmylou on sessions at west 54th & thought he was awesome. as far as an intro emmy's music goes, the "profile" anthology is a nice budget priced intro to some of her earlier music, and has the wonderful songs - "easy from now on" and "boulder to birmingham" - the latter one is imho one of the most beautiful vocal performances i have ever heard anywhere by any artist, as well as a truly beautiful song. if emmy was capable of writing songs like that she really should have pushed her writing abilities a lot earlier before her voice problems started. given the strength of her songwriting on "red dirt girl" we can only wonder what the world of music lost out on.... but if you really like her - do as kate suggested - start at the very beginning - or near to it - with the two gram parsons albums - GP & Grievous Angel, then just work through her entire catalog. there aint a bad one in there.... and another question for all the listmembers - has anyone ever heard her first solo, pre gram parsons album "Gliding Bird"??? is it really as bad as she seems to think??? i read a review where they say 'it's a straightforward folk effort, owing more to Joni Mitchell than anything else" now the fact that the reviewer can regard joni as "straightforward folk" !!!!!!!!!! tells me that he doesnt have a clue ron whose previous cat was named "emmy" & developed a habit of rolling in the red dirt in my garden!! np - emmylou - no regrets ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 09:25:29 -0400 From: Chuck Eisenhardt Subject: NJC Slow Dancing I didn't catch the origin of this thread, but when I see reference to 'slow dancing/first times' it brought to mind the 7-8th grade dance parties in basement rec rooms, playing twister and spin the bottle.... But the slow songs I recall that provided the soundtracks for early hugs.. 'Soldier Boy' 'Be my Boy' (The Paris Sisters) 'This is Dedicated (to the one I love) 'Are you Ready' (Barbara Mason) 'I'm So Proud' (Curtis Mayfield) dating myself, no doubt... anybody ever actually dance 'the mashed potato'? I hear there's a new version out on the west coast, with garlic and EVOO. Chucke ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 10:01:40 -0400 From: Chuck Eisenhardt Subject: NJC Hey Sherelle Sherelle, I am playing around with 'Knocks Me off My Feet' and I think I've got it pretty much worked out. What's your key? (Please say 'C'... but...whatever!) Your 'Eleanor Ribgy' treatment knocks ME out! I think you should send this up to Les and perhaps he can post an mpeg? Everybodu should hear this! Chucke ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 10:20:08 EDT From: FMYFL@aol.com Subject: Re: NJC Slow Dancing In a message dated 9/28/02 9:38:41 AM Eastern Daylight Time, chuck@chucke.net writes: > dating myself, no doubt... > > Chuck, you were dating yourself in 7th grade? LOL ........just kidding :~) The one song that sticks out in my mind at the Junior High Cotillion for getting close to a girl (yes, at one time I did) was Grand Funk Railroad's "I'm Your Captain". The kids would be dancing apart until the "I'm Getting Closer to My Home" kicked in, then came the slow dancing. aaaaaaaahhhh the memories of early woody's :~) Jimmy ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 10:37:45 EDT From: Jennymac48@aol.com Subject: Joni on Ab Fab Last night, Eddie is talking to her daughter and Pats comes in and slurs"...and the hissing of summer lawns..."! Love ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 10:41:12 EDT From: Murphycopy@aol.com Subject: Re: NJC Slow Dancing Jimmy writes: << aaaaaaaahhhh the memories of early woody's :~) >> Your own, or someone else's? A bit later, in the early 70s, I remember "Color My World" being the big slow dancing hit at college mixers. (Does anyone even use the term "college mixer" anymore? --Bob ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 10:50:43 EDT From: FMYFL@aol.com Subject: Re: NJC Slow Dancing The evil Bob writes: > (Does anyone even use the term "college mixer" > anymore? > > Only when *you* show up in drag :~) Jimmy ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 11:00:52 EDT From: Murphycopy@aol.com Subject: Re: A special powful tool Sharon -- maybe -- wrote: << Hi,This is a powful tool I wish you would like it. >> Did you really send me this, Sharon? I am afraid to open the attachment, since it looks suspicious -- your spelling is usually better! ("powful?") Did anyone else get it? --Bob ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 11:08:06 -0400 From: "Lavieri, Vince [185776]" Subject: Re: A special powful tool Bob, it is a virus that has been making the rounds. I never worry about it because I have a Mac - but all you who use evil empire stuff, what ever this does, not good. Vince Sharon -- maybe -- wrote: << Hi,This is a powful tool I wish you would like it. >> Did you really send me this, Sharon? I am afraid to open the attachment, since it looks suspicious -- your spelling is usually better! ("powful?") Did anyone else get it? --Bob ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 11:35:42 -0400 From: "Blair Fraipont" Subject: Re: Fw: New Jackson Browne CD njc Hey thanks, I'll give that one a try. I am sure it is pretty good as I have heard a few songs from that record. BLair > Blair, > I like Jackson Brown, but yes some of his stuff seems hollow. The one >song >that I LOVE is on his "Saturate Before Using" CD. It's called 'Song For >Adam'. >If you have never heard it, give it a try. It is one of his more real >songs. > Kasey > _________________________________________________________________ Join the worlds largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 12:23:39 EDT From: Murphycopy@aol.com Subject: Re: A special powful tool - nkc Vinve writes these "powful" words: << I never worry about it because I have a Mac >> Me, too, but I thought someone should mention it. Thanks, Vince. --Bob ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 12:41:40 -0400 From: "Erica Trudelle" Subject: The Cover of My Dreams ok...I finally hammered out some covers I would like to hear: Ani DiFranco: Talk To Me, All I Want Tom Waits: Harlem In Havana, I definitely agree with Bob on "Furry Sings the Blues" just to hear him say, " I don't like you" ! Fiona Apple: For Free, Jungle-Line, Rainy Night House...I love her voice Billie Holiday: A Case of You (I think someone already said this) Bob Dylan: The Silky Veils of Ardor Gerry Garcia/ Dave Grisman: The Silky Veils of Ardor Steely Dan: In France They Kiss.... Conting Crows: I'd love to hear Adam Durtiz sing Hejira, I love his voice as well I could probably go on, but those were the ones that came to me first Erica _________________________________________________________________ Join the worlds largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 10:15:01 -0700 From: "Kate Bennett" Subject: RE: [NortheastJonifest] jonifest report, so so late! njc alison wrote "for indulging me in my singer fantasy." yes, well i said it before & i will say it again...girl you should be out there singing A LOT...what a beautious set of vocal chords you are blessed with.. ******************************************** Kate Bennett: www.katebennett.com Sponsored by Polysonics/Atlantis Sound Labs Over the Moon- "bringing the melancholy world of twilight to life almost like magic" All Music Guide ******************************************** ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 10:15:03 -0700 From: "Kate Bennett" Subject: cnn NJC kasey- i am interested in reading this info...do you have links? thanks... "Iraq is connected to the Al Q." ...the intelligence information we have received." ******************************************** Kate Bennett: www.katebennett.com Sponsored by Polysonics/Atlantis Sound Labs Over the Moon- "bringing the melancholy world of twilight to life almost like magic" All Music Guide ******************************************** ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 10:15:07 -0700 From: "Kate Bennett" Subject: JB NJC "The one song that I LOVE is on his "Saturate Before Using" CD. It's called 'Song For Adam'." first time i heard elton john's 'candle in the wind' i heard a whole lot of 'song for adam' in it...melody & words... ******************************************** Kate Bennett: www.katebennett.com Sponsored by Polysonics/Atlantis Sound Labs Over the Moon- "bringing the melancholy world of twilight to life almost like magic" All Music Guide ******************************************** ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 11:41:24 -0700 From: "kakki" Subject: Re: Joni in Doonesbury again Chucke, LOL - thanks this is great! A point of view where I can finally agree with Trudeau (besides him being an abvious fan of Joni) hahahahahaha Though I remain an active defender of personal property rights, my main foray into activism was to work for the passage of the (California Coastal Act) beach access law back in the 70s. I love seeing Geffen get stuck! ;-) Kakki > And again today! > > Zonker is talking to the 'surfer dude' after confronting Geffen (Free Man) > in his Malibu beachfront home, over the issue of beach access...last two > frames were: > > "They carried me out of the house and dumped me at the low-tide mark. > It was awful" > > "And yet, you must return" > > 'I must?" > > "To find out about Joni. A true fan NEVER gives up!" > > Chucke ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 14:33:59 -0500 From: "mia ortlieb" Subject: re:Judy Collins I've often wondered if Joni wrote "Sire of Sorrow-Job's Sad Song" for Judy Collins. I've listened to the lyrics and tried to understand why the song was so dark. It couldn't be just the loss of a loved one, because we all have to go sometime. A suicide possibly? I lost a loved one to suicide, and I can tell you it is absolutely tormenting, but the lyrics in this song take the torment even further than that. I came to the conclusion that the character in the song must have lost a "child" to suicide. This would be the ultimate tragedy in my opinion. Mia _________________________________________________________________ Join the worlds largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 15:41:25 -0400 From: "Marian Russell " Subject: thank you, and raya o. coal - njc I just wanted to thank everybody who wished me a happy birthday and apologize that it took me so long to answer everyone - hope I didn't miss anybody. About two weeks ago I switched over to onlyJoni, so missed a lot of the messages to me until I downloaded the digests from the last week yesterday. I visited my friend Raya O. Coal today. She is struggling to be recognized here in Austria. She said the only way to earn an income as a musician here is to be part of a cover band. I guess things haven't changed here much since Mozart. Anyway, her CD is out finally and her website is up and running. YOu can visit her and order her CD here: http://www.rayaocoal.com/ I highly recommend her CD - it's truly unique and very beautiful. Regards to all, Marian ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 17:22:43 -0500 From: "kasey simpson" Subject: Bob/Jimmy depends Bob/Jimmy, Just for me, when you two post will you please add "Depends Alert"? I dang near wet myself reading your exchange. Thanks, KaseyGet more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 14:14:19 -0700 From: "kakki" Subject: Re: NJC Slow Dancing Chuck wrote: > 'This is Dedicated (to the one I love) Yes, the version by the Mamas & Papas was one of my slow dance song. I'm remembering it as a spin the bottle song, too! > anybody ever actually dance 'the mashed potato'? I've never known anyone to dance it! > I hear there's a new version out on the west coast, with > garlic and EVOO. Gawd, what is EVOO?? There are a few places here that put rosemary in mashed potato(e)s! I had some a few years ago and it was full of twigs and branches and was hideous. Even worse is fennel, which I think should be criminalized ;-) Kakki ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 23:04:39 +0100 From: colin Subject: Re: Judy Collins I don't think it is about anyone or any grief inparticular. It is just about how life can be at times. Life is difficult for everyone. We all experience joy and pain. sometimes it seems we experience more pain and sorrow.So i think Joni was writing in general terms for us all and not about or for anything specific. mia ortlieb wrote: > I've often wondered if Joni wrote "Sire of Sorrow-Job's Sad Song" for Judy > Collins. I've listened to the lyrics and tried to understand why the song > was so dark. It couldn't be just the loss of a loved one, because we all > have to go sometime. A suicide possibly? I lost a loved one to suicide, and > I can tell you it is absolutely tormenting, but the lyrics in this song take > the torment even further than that. I came to the conclusion that the > character in the song must have lost a "child" to suicide. This would be the > ultimate tragedy in my opinion. > > Mia ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 23:18:16 -0500 From: "kasey simpson" Subject: Fw: Bob/Jimmy depends njc Jimmy, You both seem funny to me.LOL Enjoy your vacation. Kasey Hi Kasey, I promise to send a photo of June Allyson doing her Depends commercial next time :~), although you'll need it more for ALL the funny posts that Bob Murphy posts. He cracks me up so much............and he's even funnier in person!! You'll just have to be at Jonifest next year and see for yourself. Take care sweetie! I'm packing for my vacation tomorrow! Jimmy Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 29 Sep 2002 07:00:54 +0100 From: "Amelio Alamo" Subject: Re: The Cover of My Dreams No no no...LOL! I'm not a Manilow fan at all. Not that I have anything against anyone who is either. I meant lively. I'm dyslexic. >From: "Bree Mcdonough" >To: amelio747@hotmail.com, joni@smoe.org >Subject: Re: The Cover of My Dreams >Date: Fri, 27 Sep 2002 15:00:33 -0400 > >Hi....rainy and breezy (chilly) here....listening to Rainy Night >House...Sting, RNH? up on her small white bed....I fell into a >dream...you sat up all the night and watched me to see who and the world I >might be... Yeah....I think he would sound just fine doing this one. I >would love for Sting to cover some of early stuff..pre Court&Spark. >Although he would sound great on FMIP. DJRD....he would have to change a >few of the pronouns...but his covers on a few of these would be >interesting. > >Sorry Manilow fan ....I know who you are.... (he's okay....bud) > >Bree > > > >>You'd think that Sting would have done one. Perhaps something from DJRD! >> >>I'm not quite sure about Manilow doing something that lovely. LOL! >> >>Steve T. >> > > > Steve T. _________________________________________________________________ MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 23:29:03 -0700 From: Casey Certis-Milby Subject: "the magdalene sisters" Slave Labor in Irish Convents as Terrible as Prison By STEPHEN HOLDEN [E] ven though its setting isn't a penal institution but a convent, Peter Mullan's grim, powerful film "The Magdalene Sisters" fits snugly into a long line of heartsick dramas in which innocent people are thrown behind bars to endure the degradation of prison. The inmates, all female, are the victims of a stringently moralistic brand of Irish Catholicism, now on the wane, that used to punish unmarried young women (many in their teens) for premarital sex. Some are confined simply because their frightened puritanical families consider them too unruly These "bad girls" exiled from their families and communities, often after becoming pregnant out of wedlock, were forced to do slave labor in convent laundries that proliferated in Ireland until recently. The existence of these religious labor camps run by the Sisters of the Magdalene Order came to light only in the 1970's with the discovery of the unmarked graves of women who lived there. After the scandal broke, the laundries were closed, the last in 1996. Some 30,000 women are thought to have passed through their gates. Once incarcerated, the women were forced to toil long hours under close guard doing unpaid work that was deemed fitting penitence for their sins. In the movie's early scenes, the work is done with washboards and tubs. The arrival of washing machines made the labor somewhat less arduous. Forbidden to talk while on the job, the prisoners were continually harangued by the nuns in charge about their sins and the unlikelihood of salvation. Disobedience was punished with beatings and the shearing of their hair. Although some of these outcasts were eventually reclaimed by family members, others were simply abandoned to spend the rest of their lives behind locked institutional doors. "The Magdalene Sisters," which tells the semifictionalized stories of four young women in one convent, is set roughly from 1964 to 1969. The movie, which the New York Film Festival is screening this evening and tomorrow afternoon at Alice Tully Hall (it recently won the top prize at the Venice Film Festival), observes the narrative conventions of most prison movies. There are small rebellions, failed escape attempts, furtive alliances and punishments so harsh they make you wince. Only the plucky and the fortunate find their way out of captivity. In one of the most harrowing scenes, a young woman flees, only to be dragged back, screaming and flailing, by her brutal, unforgiving father. Most prison movies have a monster authority figure, and so does "The Magdalene Sisters." Here that ogre is the head nun, Sister Bridget (Geraldine McEwan), a twisted diabolical autocrat who gets gurgly and teary-eyed over Ingrid Bergman in "The Bells of St. Mary's" and keeps a picture of John F. Kennedy in her room. But when the rules of her little fief are flouted, Sister Bridget turns into a vengeful demon. In a brilliant performance, Ms. McEwan makes this character horribly believable by portraying her cruelty not as raw sadism but as righteous punishment dispensed by a religious fanatic with a warped sense of values. "The Magdalene Sisters" more than fulfills the promise of Mr. Mullan's audacious feature film debut, "Orphans," a rough-hewn surreal family comedy first shown here three years ago in the New Directors/New Films series. If Mr. Mullan's screenplay avoids the lurid shock tactics of conventional women's prison movies, that's not to say the movie doesn't include some appalling images. In a humiliating exercise calculated to instill maximum body shame and self-loathing, the women, naked and lined up for their morning calisthenics, are sarcastically evaluated as physical specimens by a nun who points out the ones with the largest buttocks and breasts and the most pubic hair. In another scene Sister Bridget flies into a rage, seizes a pair of scissors and hacks off the hair of a rebellious young woman with a fury that leaves blood streaming from the girl's scalp into her eyes. The movie begins with sketchy vignettes that suggest how three of the women ended up in the convent. Margaret (Anne-Marie Duff) is raped during a wedding party by a drunken cousin and makes the mistake of confiding in a friend. As word spreads among the celebrants, the men's accusing faces reveal that they blame Margaret for the assault, and sometime later she is summarily dispatched by her father to the convent, where she is given a brown sack of a uniform, shown into a shabby dormitory and indoctrinated into the harshly regimental routine. Next is Rose, an unwed mother shown cuddling her beautiful baby boy and tearfully pleading with her parents to accept the child. Stone-faced, they refuse even to look at her, and she is hustled off to the convent, where she is renamed Patricia. The only sin apparently committed by Bernadette, the most defiant of the new arrivals, is being a magnet for adolescent male attention. When she arrives at the convent, Sister Bridget fixes a contemptuous gaze on the girl and denounces her as a temptress. Determined to escape, Bernadette flirts with a gawky youth who delivers the laundry, promising him sexual favors if he will help her escape, but he loses his nerve. Finally, there is Crispina (Eileen Walsh), a sweet, simple-minded girl (and the unwed mother of a young boy) who becomes unstrung when her only worldly possession, a St. Christopher's medal, is stolen. The most vulnerable of the four, Crispina meets the cruelest fate after revealing she was sexually abused by a priest. "The Magdalene Sisters" would be too painful to watch if it didn't have a silver lining. Suffice it say that it is possible to fly over this religious cuckoo's nest and remain free. All it takes is courage and the timely kindness of strangers. THE MAGDALENE SISTERS Written and directed by Peter Mullan; director of photography, Nigel Willoughby; edited by Colin Monie; music by Craig Armstrong; produced by Frances Higson; released by Miramax Films. Running time: 119 minutes. This film is not rated. Shown with a six-minute short, Jonathan Romney's "Social Call," today at 9 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Alice Tully Hall, 165 West 65th Street, Lincoln Center, as part of the 40th New York Film Festival. WITH: Anne-Marie Duff (Margaret), Dorothy Duffy (Patricia/Rose), Nora-Jane Noone (Bernadette), Eileen Walsh (Crispina) and Geraldine McEwan (Sister Bridget). ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V2002 #396 ***************************** ------- Post messages to the list by clicking here: mailto:joni@smoe.org Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe ------- Siquomb, isn't she? (http://www.siquomb.com/siquomb.cfm)