MovieChat Forums > Circle of Friends (1995) Discussion > Movie begins with major religious goof u...

Movie begins with major religious goof up

posted 19 years ago by roghache
20 replies | jump to latest

This movie was admittedly mildly entertaining (though different ending from the novel) and the heroine sympathetic, but how can anyone take it seriously when it starts out by having the ceremony for these three little girls called Confirmation when it is actually their First Communion? I'm not Catholic myself (though my husband is) but would have realized LONG before I ever met him what this particular ceremony was. Surely to goodness, if Hollywood is making a movie set in 1950's Catholic Ireland, they could check their basic facts a little better. It really wouldn't have taken much of a consultation. The movie thus lost all credibility for me early on. It seemed obvious to me that they just wanted to make a sort of college soap opera revolving around sex, and weren't concerned about genuine quality at all. This particular goof up is absolutely unforgivable.

[–] mtz206 19 years ago

In the 50s, the two sacraments were often bestowed simultaneously.

[–] roghache 19 years ago

Well, I have to eat crow, it seems you're right. I checked with my (Catholic) husband, who did not see the movie, and he claims that he himself as a child back in about 1958 had both sacraments bestowed at the same time. However, I don't know about Ireland but here in northeastern Canada it was definitely ALWAYS commonly referred to as the child's First Communion, and NEVER as his or her Confirmation (even though it was apparently both).

[–] Major_Movie_Star 19 years ago

I'm not sure about the fifties, but in the sixties First Communion was around age 7, Confirmation age 14.
P.S. correction: confirmation was around 11/12 (what was i thinking!)

[–] equine_job 19 years ago

Back then they had to wait until the Bishop visited. If he was going to be around, most of the children of the parish would be confirmed in case he didn't come back for several years.

[–] MrAleisterCrowley 11 years ago

I think it can vary by country, culture, and even diocese -- when I was a kid (growing up in the 80s) communion/reconciliation (or first communion/ confession) took place around age 8-9 and age 14 for confirmation (confirmation was definitely separate from communion/confession). I think communion and confirmation are often done at the same time however in RCIA classes.

"Did you ever see a cat's eyes in the dark, and wonder what they were?" -- Mr. Rogers

[–] Sandra4jc 19 years ago

no communion at 7 confirmation 11 or 12 in the 50's

[–] phantomcrowqueen 18 years ago

Acutally it depends on the church and where abouts of the church. What the person said before is true. It often happend where they both were done at the same time.

[–] linda-zwick 12 years ago

I made my confirmation at 7 in 1959 (in Missouri)

[–] radjaxon 18 years ago

Thanks for the endorsement, rog. Now I wanna see this movie!

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] folklorish 18 years ago

way back when thats how they dressed for confirmation too

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] m-rimmell 11 years ago

I was part of the crew on this movie..I am sure it was correct..
I was the Production Buyer also Maeve Binchey was around quite a lot of the time..She ,I am sure, would have spotted such an error if indeed there was one.
Having said that..It was my third film in Ireland (My first was 'In The Name Of The Father').
It was a great movie to be part of,I also experienced my first ever Karaoke. A charity competition which I won...Just an added bonus to a great experience..

[–] francois-90 17 years ago

I grew up in Europe in the 50-60's and strangely enough, we had 2 (first) communions. One at 7, called First Communion. It was a private ceremony with just the close relatives invited. Girls wore white knee-high dresses. Then at 12, same again, called the Solemn Communion, where the dresses were full length and the whole family was invited. Practically as much celebration as a wedding. It was also preceded by 2 full years of religious instruction besides the religious classes at school. Confirmation was a year later, at 13.

The Eastern Churches (Byzantine) have 1st communion and confirmation at baptism.

[–] Ikes_gurl386 17 years ago

Actually, the age for first communion and confirmation is not set in stone worldwide. The Bishops of your particular diocease make the decision of when such sacraments should take place. Some allow confirmation to take place at a very young age, especially a long time ago. Other dioceases make confirmation as late as a person's senior year in high school. My particular diocease is confirming people around the age of 16. First communion is taking place as young as secound grade which is around age 7. Especially, a long time ago children were celebrating confirmation much younger, but then many dioceases made the decision that since it is supposed to be the sacrament of you coming into your "adult membership" into the church it should be celebrated older. My Godmother celebrated her's at age 14. At the time I was confirmed, I was 17. Went through classes at age 16.

[–] pinkpouncer 16 years ago

From my personal experience both my Confirmation and my First Communion were the same day...I had to take classes leading up to my Communion day, which was the day I was first allowed to take place in Communion....For me the movie didn't need to distinguish between the 2 it made complete sense.

[–] JoJoSeahorse 16 years ago

One of my mother's best friends grew up in Ireland in that time period; I remember her telling me the First Communion and Confirmation in her parish used to be on two consecutive Sundays, and they all wore their white outfits for both ceremonies :)

I'm a cherry ghost

[–] albondiga1967 15 years ago

I had my First Holy Communion when I was 7 and then had my Confirmation when I was 10.

I guess it depends on the diocese?

El Paso, Texas...ever heard of it?

[–] hodie 12 years ago

I just thought it was their First Communion.

"Joey, have you ever been in a Turkish prison?"