The Secret Scripture (2017)

Well Deserved Praise

I gave it a 7.5 out of 10

Excellent, a Must See

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

It was very well done and kept my interest. Even gave me the "feels"

I watched this at home on DVD while my wife was on the golf course. One has to have his priorities straight!It is set alternately in 1942 and the 1980s. Two actresses play the same character, young 20-something and older 70-something.Rooney Mara, all 5'-3" of her, is the younger Rose and Vanessa Redgrave, all 5'11" of her, is the elderly Lady Rose, who we find is in a state facility for 40+ years in Ireland. She was accused of murdering her newborn baby and institutionalized because of it. The institution has been sold and will be turned into a hotel, residents are being removed. A doctor, Eric Bana as Dr. Grene is specifically chosen to evaluate Rose. His task is to unravel hier story and get to the truth. Rose claims she did not kill her child and he believes her.The other key character is Theo James as Father Gaunt.Much story time is given to Rose in each period, the movie is very well made and the acting is first rate. A really good story made into a really good movie.SPOILERS past this point, be advised. As the story unfolds we begin to get hints that Dr. Grene, who is the right age, might be the long lost son of Rose. He goes to his childhood home and digs through a box of old photos and letters, finds his baptismal certificate and a letter from his parents, he realizes who he is and in the end takes Rose home.

Why does the Irish Film Board finance such a biased movie? Protestant Rose is the woman every man wants, even the catholic priest! And the Catholics are all savages who commit atrocious crimes that go unpunished. Rooney is absolutely forgettable, and for me it's got one of the saddest ugliest soundtracks I've ever heard. And why are all the actors faking the accent, are there no good actors in Ireland? I watched till the end even though the plot was appalling, just because I love Ireland. The only plus side to this movie is that it is a reminder of how much has already been accomplished as to the troubles and the hatred in between the two groups. May we continue to make life on earth better.

I'm not going to explain the story, that has been done in other reviews. What I do want to say is thisThe end of this movie brought tears to my eyes, and literally almost broke me, because I have experienced something similar. No, I didn't live in a mental institution all my life, but the pain and heartache is the same, it's excruciating, at the loss of a lover, a family member (including pets), and especially the loss of your child. At the same time the movie brought pain, it also brought healing.Many movies can be confusing at first, and some stay that way until the very end. This was not confusing at all, you just needed to follow along, and know that eventually that everything will be clear and fit into place.An awesome movie, exceptional acting, and the music is beautiful, especially the end title "The Cry Inside," written by Brian Byrne and performed by Kelly Clarkson. It was absolutely gorgeous, a masterpiece. Listening to it, and paying attention to the lyrics, is what finally broke me...I sobbed"The Cry Inside" never goes away. Rose Kennedy explained it as follows ~"It has been said, 'time heals all wounds,' I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens. But it is never gone."