Synopsis
This explosive work about the conflict between the spirit and the flesh is the epitome of the sensuous style of
Michael Powell and
Emeric Pressburger. A group of nuns – played by some of Britain’s finest actresses, including
Deborah Kerr,
Kathleen Byron, and
Flora Robson – struggle to establish a convent in the Himalayas, while isolation, extreme weather, altitude, and culture clashes all conspire to drive the well-intentioned missionaries mad. A darkly grand film that won Oscars for
Alfred Junge’s art direction and
Jack Cardiff’s cinematography,
Black Narcissus is one of the greatest achievements by two of cinema’s true visionaries.