My expectations of the movie were a bit higher than what I actually watched. The first half of the movie is strong and gripping. When the story of the girls and their situation was told, one word came to mind: (Catholic) Taliban. And I do not mean the bearded backwoodsmen from Pakistan and Afghanistan armed with AK-47s, but devote (male) Catholics from Ireland waving with bibles, amulets and the like. I feel sorry for the girls and women who were subjected to this Catholic tyranny, where as a female one could only be a saint, or a whore. Men on the contrary where allowed to misbehave, and getting away with it. Well, after going to confession to some equally hypocrite priest. However, the strength of the first part, the accusation of the Catholic church, is reversed in the second half of the movie where the story becomes more focused on the individuals. Individuals are needed to tell a story of course, but the story got a bit lost by focusing to much, in my opinion, on the individuals. Had the end changed more in line with the first part, i.e. the accusation, than I would have rated this movie 8/10, whereas now it is 7/10.
However, let this not withhold you from seeing this great movie on a somewhat neglected subject in (Catholic) history.
However, let this not withhold you from seeing this great movie on a somewhat neglected subject in (Catholic) history.