Black Narcissus story
Black Narcissus is a 1947 British psychological drama film written, produced, and directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, and starring Deborah Kerr, Kathleen Byron, Sabu, David Farrar, Flora Robson, Esmond Knight, and Jean Simmons. The title refers to the Caron perfume Narcisse Noir. Studio: Archers Film Productions, Independent Producers.
17 total · 7 major · 10 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| Christianity | major | The nuns and their flock performed a variety of Christian rituals. |
| coping with personal failure | major | All the sisters failed, but Sister Clodagh felt it most keenly as she noticed the disaster her convent was heading towards. |
| infatuation | major | The Young General became besotted with Kanchi. Sister Claudagh was attracted to Mr. Dean, at least in Sister Ruth's imagination. Mr. Dean reveled his feelings for Sister Clodagh at the end. |
| leadership | major | A recurring topic was the trials and tribulations met by Sister Superior, Sister Clodagh, as she tries to lead her flock of nuns and make St. Faith a success. |
| monasticism | major | The story concerns a group of nuns and their efforts to start up a convent in a remove village in colonial India. |
| the desire for professional success | major | All the sisters were concerned about their status in the order to some degree or another, but none more than Sister Clodagh who desperately wanted her new convent to be a success. |
| vanity | major | The title of the story is a reference to Narcissus and is connected with the notable vanity of a man called the Young General. Sister Ruth displayed some such traits as well. |
| acute anxiety | minor | Ruth was clearly unstable and thought everyone were against her. |
| coping with a loved one being gravely ill | minor | A mother with a dying baby visited the nuns and was turned away because it was hopeless. |
| coping with memories of a lost love | minor | Sister Clodagh was remembering a failed love affair. |