A Cinematic Road Trip With Three Nuns

Holy Days
Directed by Nat Boltt
Velvet Moss and Lily Pictures

There is a magical scene toward the end of Holy Days that demonstrates cinema’s gift for conveying profound spiritual and metaphysical themes. Set in a wintry landscape, it features Brian (Elijah Tamati), a ten year old traumatized by the loss of his mother. Without giving too much away, this scene is one of great visual and imaginative beauty, marking a psychological and emotional turning point for the boy.

There are serious subjects being explored in Holy Days, a New Zealand/Canada co-production, including grief, loss and the passing of time. Three nuns who live in a dilapidated convent in New Zealand are about to be turfed out unceremoniously and without notice. Brian is a frequent visitor to the nuns, who nurture his Catholic faith while directing his penances toward house cleaning. Eventually the four of them set out on a road trip which becomes a mission to save the convent from developers.

Holy Days is the debut by writer/director Nat Boltt, who also stars as Brian’s step-mother. Boltt has assembled an impressive cast, including veteran actresses Judy Davis, Jackie Weaver and Miriam Margolyes as the three nuns. Boltt has coaxed sympathetic and lively performances from all of them, especially from Margolyes as the dementia-suffering Sister Luke, who behaves like a naughty child.

The New Zealand film industry has come a long way since 1974, the year in which the movie is set. There were no feature length films produced there in that year. However, in 1975 a modest feature film, Test Pictures, had its premiere at the Wellington Film Festival. An art movie with an episodic structure and minimal dialogue, shot in black and white and made for peanuts, it signaled the start of a cinematic renaissance in New Zealand cinema, eventually culminating in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. 

Today New Zealand continues to make a small number of movies, usually modest in cost and scope. Holy Days is typical in many ways, having both strengths and weaknesses. Along with her stellar cast, Boltt is fortunate to have the services of the talented cinematographer Thomas Burstyn. This is a great looking movie, with interiors well lit and, of course, there is that amazing New Zealand countryside. 

The key to a good movie is a good script, and this is where Holy Days is something of a let down. Serious themes, such as loss and death, deserve serious treatment, however the tone throughout the movie is mostly superficial, even silly at times. A joke involving Sister Luke’s false teeth occurs three times - once was enough. The three nuns misbehave, as if this in itself is a guarantee of humor - nowadays, it isn’t.

The main part of the movie is the road trip. I usually like such movies, and Holy Days reminds me why, but for the wrong reasons. Road trips are interesting because of the interactions between the travelers and the strangers they meet along the way. Disappointingly, the nuns and Brian have no meaningful encounters with anybody apart from Brian’s aunt, with whom they stay overnight. 

Women will enjoy this movie more than men. The female characters are all interesting and kind. The male characters, on the other hand, with few exceptions, are either weak, evil or despicable. The local priest is a drunken buffoon, the Catholic bishop is arrogant, the property developer is greedy, the traffic cop venal. 

Although it is set in 1974, the movie has a more contemporary feel. It uses vintage cars, but the soundtrack is modern. In 1974 people did not greet each other by saying “Kia ora!” The ticket office for the Picton Ferry is entirely fictional. The filmmakers compensate by using charming stop-motion animation to convey transitions, such as a ferry crossing. In an interview, Boltt explained that this was intended to represent Brian’s imagination.

In one way, Brian is the most interesting character in the movie - he has the furthest to travel, emotionally speaking. There is an overlap of Christian and Maori spirituality, but this is not of prime importance. What matters is Brian’s personal story, which the young actor Elijah Tamati communicates effectively. There is one caveat - all of the 10 year old’s personal interactions are conducted with adults. It would have been good to see him relating to others of his own age.

Toward the end of the movie the characters enter deeper waters, when the silliness gives way to something more resonant, and the nuns’ religious compassion comes to the fore. Watching this, one wishes the movie had taken itself more seriously early on. In any case, if you are in the right mood, and enjoy accomplished acting with a helping of stunning new Zealand scenery, Holy Days will lift your spirits and warm your heart. 

David Beresford