The Magdalena convents in Ireland, run by the Sisters of Mercy, were Catholic institutions where ‘fallen’ women were brought by their families to atone for their sins. The punishment (for that was what it was, although it was never described as such) was for an unlimited time, which came down to a life of work in one of the laundries. Peter Mullan situated the story in the 1960s: for many women a period of liberation, but not for the Magdalena sisters. The vicissitudes of the four women from The Magdalene Sisters are unfortunately based on true life. The last Magdalena laundry only closed in Ireland in 1996.Margaret was raped at a wedding by her cousin. She told a girlfriend and next morning she was taken to Magdalena. Bernadette is so pretty she poses a danger to the boys in her area, so she is sent to the convent. Rose and Crispina are in the convent because they are unmarried mothers. They may never see their children again. The women are regularly humiliated by the nuns; corporal punishment is no exception.The horrific story of the women is portrayed in a convincing, realistic style. As Mullan is not primarily interested with the visual composition, the actors had plenty of freedom to portray this gripping and above all criminal story.
