"Body & Soul" (1993) TV mini-series

User Rating:

8.5/10   

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

8 April 1993 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A nun, played by Kristin Scott Thomas, leaves the convent temporarily to help save her family knitting...

Plot Keywords:

Convent | Nun | TV Mini-Series | Nudity | Mirror

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Kristin Scott Thomas	...	Anna / ... (6 episodes, 1993)
Sandra Voe	...	Peggy (6 episodes, 1993)
Anthony Valentine	...	Stan Beattie (6 episodes, 1993)
Amanda Redman	...	Lynn / ... (6 episodes, 1993)
Tracy Keating	...	Sister Dominic (6 episodes, 1993)
Dorothy Tutin	...	Mother Emmanuel (6 episodes, 1993)
Gary Mavers	...	Hal (5 episodes, 1993)
Ben Hinitt	...	Matt Gibson (5 episodes, 1993)
Elizabeth Bennett	...	Sister Vincent (5 episodes, 1993)
Helena McCarthy	...	Sister Aelred (5 episodes, 1993)
Pamela Duncan	...	Sister Peter (5 episodes, 1993)
Maggie Lane	...	Rene (5 episodes, 1993)
Madeleine Christie	...	Sister Godric (5 episodes, 1993)
Mary Wray	...	Sylvie (5 episodes, 1993)
Olive Pendleton	...	Sister Thomas-A-Kempis (5 episodes, 1993)
Rebecca Harries	...	Sister Rosalie (5 episodes, 1993)
Vicky Devon	...	Linda (5 episodes, 1993)
Joanna Swain	...	Doris (5 episodes, 1993)
Joshua Smith	...	Jamie Gibson (5 episodes, 1993)
Olga Grahame	...	Dawn (5 episodes, 1993)
Eileen Davies	...	Sister Julian (4 episodes, 1993)
Caroline O'Neill	...	Leila (4 episodes, 1993)
John Bowe	...	Daniel Stern (3 episodes, 1993)
Patrick Allen	...	Walter Street (3 episodes, 1993)
Kulvinder Ghir	...	Terry Singh (3 episodes, 1993)

Runtime:

300 min (6 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

Red Rooster Film & Television Entertainment

As good as this series was, the book was better.

I've read the book countless times, and the series pales in comparison. I thought that the writers of the teleplay made more changes than were absolutely necessary (why change the family's name, for example?), and that some of the spirit of the book was missing.

I have always regarded this book as the story of a woman who comes of age both spiritually and emotionally. She has to decide what is important to her, and why. In the book, her struggle to make the best decisions for her future is played out more. We see more of her relationship with the other nuns, and we see how her leaving affects them. In the film, the only other nun we really get to see is Sister Dominic.

In the film, her reasons for leaving appeared to be more cut and dry. In the book there is a lot more nuance. I can't not recommend the film, but I can recommend that those who liked it read the book. It's beautiful.