50th Anniversary release in partnership with Kartemquin Films
One of the earliest examples of Kartemquin co-founders Gordon Quinn and Gerald Temaner’s exploration into the world of cinéma vérité, Inquiring Nuns captures the attitudes, fears, and dreams of everyday Chicagoans, giving audiences and researchers insight into the political and social climate of 1960’s Chicago. The film’s music is composed by Philip Glass in his first credited film score. Two young Catholic nuns crisscross Chicago, from a supermarket to the Art Institute to church on Sunday, to ask random strangers the question, "Are you happy?" The answers include: "Groovy!" "I could be happier." "Mostly, except about Vietnam." "Well, certainly, Notre Dame won yesterday!" "Yeah, because I went to communion this morning." They meet a lonely girl, a happy mother, young lovers, hippie musicians, a sociologist, and even the actor Lincoln Perry, better known as Stepin Fetchit. The interviewees are sometimes taken aback, nervous, or clamouring to get into view of the camera.
The humour and pathos of these encounters elevate the film into a serious and moving inquiry into contemporary society and how people examine their own lives.
Press:
- Sisters do a documentary for themselves - Phil Hoad, The Guardian
- A thought-provoking time capsule - A simple question yields many profound answers - Glenn Kenny, The New York Times
- Quinn and Temaner are filmmakers and "inquiring reporters" with great insight, and a lot to tell us about ourselves. Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times, 1968
Available to rent on Vimeo on demand.
