Inquiring Nuns facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Inquiring Nuns |
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| Music by | Philip Glass |
| Cinematography | Gordon Quinn |
| Editing by | Gordon Quinn |
| Distributed by | Kartemquin Films |
| Release date(s) | 1968 |
| Running time | 66 min. |
| Country | US |
| Language | English |
Inquiring Nuns is a documentary film from 1968. It was made by Kartemquin Films and directed by Gordon Quinn and Gerald Temaner. The movie follows two young Catholic nuns, Sister Marie Arne and Sister Mary Campion. They travel around Chicago asking different people one simple question: "Are you happy?"
The nuns meet many kinds of people, from musicians to thinkers. Their answers are sometimes ordinary and sometimes very deep. This film was inspired by another movie called Chronique d'un été. Gordon Quinn and Gerald Temaner watched it when they were students at the University of Chicago. The film was shot using a special camera called "Camera #1."
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Making the Film: How Inquiring Nuns Was Created
This movie was the fourth project for Gordon Quinn and Gerald Temaner. It cost about $16,000 to make, which would be over $110,000 today. The film was made for the Catholic Adult Education Center in Chicago. They liked the film so much that they didn't ask for any changes.
The Nuns in the Film
At the time of filming, Sister Marie Arne and Sister Mary Campion worked at St. Denis Parish in Chicago. A few years after the movie came out, both nuns left the sisterhood. Sister Marie Arne later became a family counselor. Sister Mary Campion became a school superintendent in Florida.
Famous Faces and Unexpected Meetings
During their journey, the nuns met many different people. One person they talked to was Stepin Fetchit. He was a well-known actor from earlier movies. He showed them some of his photos and told them he was happy.
Music and Recognition for Inquiring Nuns
The music for Inquiring Nuns was composed by Philip Glass. At the time, he was not very famous. He was paid $100 for his work, which was his first time composing for a film. Today, Philip Glass is a very famous composer. He has written music for many movies, like The Truman Show.
Film Festival and Reviews
Inquiring Nuns was chosen to be shown at the Chicago International Film Festival in 1968. This was a big honor for the film. Later, Entertainment Weekly magazine gave the movie a high grade. They praised the film for showing the value of common sense.
Restoring the Film for New Audiences
In 2018, the film received a special grant. This money helped to restore the original 16mm film print. This means they made the old film look new again. After the restoration, Inquiring Nuns was shown in theaters again to celebrate its 50th anniversary. This allowed new audiences to see this important documentary.
