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Brides of Christ

From Alfawiki
Brides of Christ
Company typeTelevision miniseries
IndustryTelevision production
Founded1991
Headquarters
Australia
ProductsTelevision drama series

Brides of Christ is a 1991 Australian television miniseries produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Set in a convent school in Sydney, the series delves into the experiences of Roman Catholic nuns and students as they navigate the social transformations of the 1960s, including changes within the church and wider society.

Plot

After breaking off her engagement, Diane Markham (Josephine Byrnes) enters the convent school 'Santu Spiritu', taking on the name 'Sister Catherine' under the guidance of 'Sister Agnes' (Brenda Fricker). She forms a close bond with the new arrival 'Sister Paul' (Lisa Hensley), teaches English, and mentors the school newspaper. Among the students, Rosemary (Kym Wilson) acts out, while Frances (Naomi Watts) faces difficulties related to her divorced mother's impending remarriage. Sister Paul offers support to Frances and develops feelings for a progressive priest (Simon Burke). The narrative weaves in contemporary issues such as the Vietnam War, rock 'n' roll culture, and shifting societal views on abortion and relationships.

Cast

The Nuns
Mother Ambrose Sandy Gore
Sister Agnes Brenda Fricker
Sister Catherine/Diane Josephine Byrnes
Sister Paul/Veronica Lisa Hensley
Sister Attracta Melissa Jaffer
Sister Patrick Penny Stehli
Sister Polycarp Joy Hruby
Sister Philomena Caroline Gillmer
Sister Clare Beth Champion
Sister Francine Michelle Pettigrove
The Girls
Frances Heffernan Naomi Watts
Rosemary Fitzgerald Kym Wilson
Bridget Maloney Melissa Thomas
Bernadette Pippa Grandison
Caroline Kirsty McGregor
Jacinta Vanessa Collier
Other characters
Jack Delahunty Simon Burke
Ian McGregor Philip Quast
Mary Maloney Pat Bishop
Dominic Maloney Russell Crowe
Liz Heffernan Anne Tenney
Martin Tierney Michael Winchester
Brendan Maloney Brian Rooney
Irish Dean Frank Gallacher
Sean Ned Manning
Bishop John Frawley

Production

The miniseries was produced with a budget of A$6.2 million, half of which was contributed by the Film Finance Corporation Australia. It consists of six episodes, each lasting 55 minutes and centered on unique characters and storylines. Certain characters recur throughout multiple episodes with varying degrees of focus; notably, Josephine Byrnes’ character features prominently in both the opening and closing installments.

Naomi Watts appeared in her first significant role as Frances, one of the schoolgirls. The series also included an early appearance by Russell Crowe portraying a young man troubled by his conscription for the Vietnam War.

Filming occurred at several locations across New South Wales, such as St Mary's Concord, Douglas Park, Santa Sabina College in Strathfield, St Scholastica's College in Glebe, Carcoar, and Mount St Mary Campus at Australian Catholic University. Interior scenes were partially shot at Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview.

Reception

Brides of Christ garnered a rating of 30 during its original broadcast, establishing it as ABC's highest-rated drama at that time. The series continued to perform well in viewer numbers during subsequent re-airings. When shown on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom, it drew an audience of approximately 6 million, marking a notable achievement for the network. In North America, the 1993 airing on A&E attracted an average of around 1.76 million viewers. The show has been made available on DVD and, as of December 2021, can be streamed via the Australian platform STAN.

Tony Scott of Variety characterized the series as "a serious effort, if not entirely compelling, to delve into a unique environment."

The production received several accolades:

External links

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