'hidden meanings'

well i think that mary first thought of becoming a nun was at the christmas thing where mother superior was tlaking to that upset old lady whos family had abandoned her at xmas, and although mary said that line about dying young and wealthy, i thin kshe was surprise to see mother superior helping and being nice to somebody else and that inspired her. Also,later on at the funeral.

I think you answered your own question regarding Mother Superior's handling of her grief over Sister Ligouri. The Reverend Mother was not about to express any emotion in front of the girls. She chose to grieve privately. I haven't seen this movie in a long time, but I believe it is during one of these private moments, or what Reverend Mother believes is a private moment, because it is,unknown to Mother, witnessed by Mary Clancy, I believe this is when Mary begins seriously considering making St. Francis her permanent home.

I think that it was during the Christmas mass after the party that she started to think about it.

And she was dismayed to learn that Sister Constance was happy about going to the Phillipines.

When she learned from Mother Superior that she was a real person with real dreams of being a famous designer who had given them up because she had "found something better" it made her think that there was something that she was missing.

Mother Superior and Sister Constance were not just washed up souls that had nowhere else to go to becomde nuns out of desperation, but had given up potentially successful careers in other fields to be nuns, and that caused Mary to give thought.

I agree with "whimsical5" Mary's interest in the "nunnery" begins her freshman year.. throughout the movie you see Mary stealing glimpses through her window at Mother Superior walking silently through the grounds .... I think these are the moments that show how her curiosity is peaked. Also, when the girls return their senior year, Mary seems more mature somehow. yes? the pranks that they pull are less mean spirited and even good natured.... that christmas, she stays at the school to be with Marvel Ann, who is sick, and she sneaks into the chapel to listen to the sisters sing.. this also shows her growing curiosity.. also her senior year, when mother superior sews Rachels cocktail dress for her, she allows mary into her life a bit when she tells her her name was Madeline Rouche, and that she had inteded on being a fashion designer... mary asks. "but how could you give it up?" and mother superior replies.. "i found something better" this is when Mary begins to truly consider being a nun I think.. NOT at the funeral of Sister Lagori.. which is at the very end of her senior year... her mind is made up by that point i think.

And I agree with the last comment too.. her change takes place so gradually during the movie that by the end, you are still surprised, but you can then fit the pieces together and understand it had been in her mind all along.. this is a rather obscure movie to most, but it is one of my absolute favorite! obviously! I love that there are people here who love it as much as I do..

The first indication Mary was observing the life of a nun was in the very beginning when she watched how Rev. Mother so delicately put leaves on St. Francis' statue around his neck. She was watching from the window.

In part I think you're right about showing her strength. It would be a difficult dilemma, since she loved the girls almost as daughters but in her position it would be hard to break down as a parent might. In the sequel this issue comes up again when Sister George can't understand why one of the girls didn't come to her for comfort and Mother Simplicia had to spell out why the nuns had to keep a certain distance. Also, people in the Church must still show faith in the circle of life and in the meaning of it all even as they acknowledge their own doubts.

I thought the scene in the old folks home was very real. When you consider that this is a G rated movie, ultimately the issues it brings up about old people coping with old age are very dark. Old people often feel forgotten and have money issues. When I first saw this movie as an youngster in the '60s I saw the old people almost as props, and didn't take any of it seriously. Now that I am much older and have seen my parents age, I realize just how deep these issues run. The statements made by the old people reflect problems for which we have no solution. Finally understanding what this scene was about really about raised my opinion of this movie.