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Nuns in the Himalayas…! This psychological drama is a dazzling, stylised triumph, winning Oscars for Art Direction and Cinematography (by the legendary Jack Cardiff). It tells the story of a group of nuns who struggle to establish a convent in the Himalayas, while isolation, extreme weather, altitude, and culture clashes all conspire to drive the well-intentioned missionaries mad.
This film will have a short introduction by Mahesh Rao, author of the award-winning novel The Smoke Is Rising, and contributor to The Cinema of Powell + Pressburger (BFI / Bloomsbury, 2023). It is screening as part of the Powell + Pressburger film season taking place from October to December across venues in Folkestone. Find out more at PPFolkestone.co.uk.
![](https://i0.wp.com/folkestonecinema.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/black-narcissus-still-jpg.webp?fit=1472%2C1080&ssl=1")
Directed by
Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
Starring
Deborah Kerr, David Farrar, Flora Robson
Genre
Drama
Details
UK • 1947 • 101 mins
Certificate
PG
A group of well-intentioned nuns set out to establish a convent in the Himalayas, but the isolation, extreme weather, high altitude, and culture clashes threaten to drive the missionaries over the edge.
Acclaimed for its technical mastery, filming techniques, and use of lighting and vibrant colour, the film’s themes shocked audiences of the day. It is now considered a masterpiece, and was hugely influential to future filmmakers.
Taking place from October – December 2023, Cinema Unbound: The Creative Worlds of Powell + Pressburger is a UK-wide film celebration of one of the greatest and most enduring filmmaking partnerships in the history of cinema: Michael Powell (1905 to 1990) and Emeric Pressburger (1902 to 1988), best known for iconic films including The Red Shoes (1948), A Matter of Life and Death (1946) and Black Narcissus
Powell + Pressburger is showing at the Silver Screen Cinema with support of the BFI, awarding funds from The National Lottery.
