Sister Smile

The bizarre life and tragic death of Belgian ex-nun Jeanine Deckers, compellingly portrayed here by Ginevra Colonna, is the subject of Roger Deutsch's haunting 2001 speculative drama. If Deckers' name doesn't ring the proverbial bell, many will remember her better as The Singing Nun, whose recording of the lilting pop tune “Dominique” became a surprise hit in the early 1960s. Originally billed as Soeur Sourire (Sister Smile), she enjoyed a burst of celebrity status and was the subject of a highly fictionalized MGM movie, The Singing Nun (1966), starring Debbie Reynolds. Yet Deckers' inability to reconcile her faith and her love of music eventually resulted in her abandoning her religious vocation. Unfortunately, she never duplicated the success of “Dominique” and spent her later years unhappily as the head of a shelter for troubled girls. A disastrous romantic relationship with another former nun (played here by Simona Caparrini) led to a tragic ending. Deutsch mercifully avoids the obvious temptation toward exploitation, presenting Deckers' story in an intelligent and sincere manner. Sister Smile is helped immeasurably by Colonna's central performance, which captures the emotional peaks and depths with striking subtlety, while her rendition of the beloved “Dominique” is a genuine treat. DVD extras include two short films by Deutsch, Dead People (2005) and Mario Makes a Movie (2004). A harrowing work that deserves a wider audience, this is recommended. (P. Hall)