Summary
Somber in the parish’s courtyard, Sister James is approached by Father Flynn. The two mutually allude to their anxieties as they explain that they both have difficulty sleeping. After Sister James asks if his sermon was pointed at anyone in particular, Father Flynn suggests that the answer is yes. Sister James explains that her brother is very ill, and Father Flynn recommends that she take time off to visit him. Sister James then forwardly asks the priest if the allegations brought against him are true.
Sister James asks Father Flynn why he had Donald Miller’s shirt and why he returned it to his locker so secretly. The Priest argues that his attentiveness to Donald Miller does not at all indicate an inappropriate relationship. Rather, he desires to make Donald feel comfortable and secure in an all-white environment. He then continues to demonize Sister Aloysius by explaining that she has never shown compassion for Donald and his isolating situation. He tells Sister James that his love for his congregation parallels her love for her class.
Father Flynn explains that love and affection are sometimes misconstrued for weakness. He urges Sister James to embrace her soft side, and, in doing so, he makes a jab at Sister Aloysius. The two shed a few tears on the bench that they share. Before walking away, Sister James tells Father Flynn that she “doesn’t believe it.” Father Flynn thanks her for her pardon. As he sits on the bench alone, Father Flynn appears forlorn.
A young female student approaches Father Flynn to tell him that she is in love with another student. After she scurries away, the priest sees Donald Miller in the school’s hallway. Although he smiles at Donald, he quickly exits in order to avoid the boy. Donald’s expression transforms from excitement to disappointment. A student then purposefully knocks the papers out of Donald’s hands and steps on the toy dancer that Father Flynn had previously gifted him. Sister James looks on as the priest consoles him.
In her class, Sister James yells at her students for being disruptive. She calls on Donald Miller to answer a question, but he is clearly distracted and unable to provide a response. After another student answers out of turn, Sister James sends him to the principal’s office. Later that day, Sister Aloysius and Donald Miller’s mother meet to discuss the nun’s suspicions. As they talk, Sister Aloysius reveals that she was previously married.
Father Flynn catches a glimpse of Sister Aloysius speaking to Mrs. Miller. Meanwhile, when the misbehaving student returns to the classroom quickly following his meeting with Sister Aloysius, Sister James yells at him. After noticing how angry she is becoming, Sister James apologizes to the student. As they walk to Mrs. Miller’s workplace, Sister Aloysius tells Donald’s mother that she worries that Father Flynn “has made advances” on her son. Mrs. Miller’s reaction stuns Sister Aloysius—Mrs. Miller clearly wants to ignore the matter in order to ensure a positive future for her son.
Mrs. Miller tells Sister Aloysius that her husband beat Donald because he thinks that he is not masculine enough. Mrs. Miller explains that she would rather that Donald be shown affection by—and potentially have a romantic relationship with—Father Flynn than be ignored and bullied by his peers. Mrs. Miller explains that Donald “needs some man to care about him.” Mrs. Miller begs that Sister Aloysius ignore the allegations, as she merely wants her son to remain in school until June. However, Sister Aloysius insists that a change is necessary.
Analysis
As Father Flynn approaches Sister James in the courtyard, we are aware that he is catching her at a particularly vulnerable moment. Father Flynn begins to humanize himself in an effort to make himself appear more relatable to the young nun. However, as their conversation continues, we begin to question if Father Flynn’s concern is genuine or if it is a manipulative tactic. After the priest attempts to make the young nun feel more comfortable with her anxieties, she begins to interrogate him. As Sister James questions a powerful authority figure, we witness how the young nun is growing more confident and self-assured.
During the interrogation, the camera angle changes. Rather than framing the two characters straight on, the camera shows Father Flynn and Sister James from below. It appears as if they are positioned in the sky, and they symbolically represent divine figures. However, their contrast against the sky draws attention to their all-black clothing. These choices contribute to the film’s use of mise-en-scéne, and Father Flynn and Sister James are thus portrayed as both heavenly and sinister figures.
As the audience watches the two figures argue from opposing sides of the frame, we are deliberately placed in a powerless and infantilized position. Made to feel like children, the audience is prompted to consider Donald Miller and his role in the allegations brought against the priest. Although the story does not delve into Donald’s interiority, we are forced to contemplate the young boy’s inevitable feelings of guilt, helplessness, and abandonment. While Donald’s voice is not independently heard throughout the story, his mother begins to reveal more about his struggles when she meets with Sister Aloysius.
When Donald sees Father Flynn in the hallway, his face expresses adoration, admiration, and hope. However, when the priest scurries away in order to avoid contact, we quickly see Donald’s body language transform to reveal his apparent insecurity. While the film profiles Father Flynn’s feelings of betrayal and sadness, Donald Miller’s reaction reveals his own immense suffering. The crushed toy dancer symbolizes the loss of Donald’s innocence and naivete. It is evident that Donald is relentlessly bullied by his peers, and the audience is encouraged to evaluate Father Flynn’s defense. Is it true that, without the priest’s guidance, Donald Miller would fail to realize his own self-worth? Or is Father Flynn merely using his observations of Donald’s peer dynamics to further exploit the young boy?
When Sister Aloysius meets with Mrs. Miller to discuss her suspicions, it is clear that the nun aims to involve Mrs. Miller in order to act upon her own conception of justice. However, their interaction clearly draws attention to the role of race in the story. When Sister Aloysius is dissatisfied with Mrs. Miller’s complacent response, she dramatically exclaims, “What kind of mother are you?” This comment reveals the nun’s narrow-mindedness. Sister Aloysius conflates maternity and morality with white privilege, and she is unable to understand how Mrs. Miller’s race affects how she interacts with the spaces around her. Sister Aloysius is unable to understand how Mrs. Miller could be an excellent mother—she puts aside her personal beliefs and subjects herself to intense pain in order to ensure Donald’s safety and future success. The nun’s inability to understand the plights of black motherhood exemplify the intolerance that Father Flynn had previously accused her of embodying.
