This grueling movie is painful to watch. But religion is not the culprit, it's just a permission slip for any screwed up, greedy culture to destroy the spirits of the young (lest they have a better life than it's leaders did), while bilking a constituency out of it's money. This from a viewer who finds all religion despicable. No religion ever went broke teaching it's flock how to judge and dismiss a sub-set of the culture via shallow, hateful criteria that can be taught before a child can even learn an ounce of critical thinking. Teaching you to loathe and distrust yourself is another highly-prized device for behavioral control. The utmost goal for insecure authority figures (parents, nuns) is expedient unquestioning obedience, sometimes for no greater reason that so one doesn't lose face.
I am part-Irish. My upbringing was full of the American version of the cruel nonsense shown in this movie. I associate many negative qualities with being Irish. To overcome the junk I was taught has taken about thirty years, but I've done it.
I am sure there are lovely light-hearted, thoughtful Irish folks out there. I don't know them. All my Irish relatives are unbearable, over-aggressive (or passive-aggressive) and vindictive. A friend who also has an Irish parent feels similarly about the Italian half of her family (instead). Go figure. So my distaste is personal.
Currently the world is tearing itself to pieces over which screwed-up magical belief system will hold the reins of secular power. Within 20 years America will be fighting a second civil war.
I am part-Irish. My upbringing was full of the American version of the cruel nonsense shown in this movie. I associate many negative qualities with being Irish. To overcome the junk I was taught has taken about thirty years, but I've done it.
I am sure there are lovely light-hearted, thoughtful Irish folks out there. I don't know them. All my Irish relatives are unbearable, over-aggressive (or passive-aggressive) and vindictive. A friend who also has an Irish parent feels similarly about the Italian half of her family (instead). Go figure. So my distaste is personal.
Currently the world is tearing itself to pieces over which screwed-up magical belief system will hold the reins of secular power. Within 20 years America will be fighting a second civil war.