The popularity of the "singing nun" was a phenomenon that took the world by surprise. Only on the strength of her internationally famous rendition of her song "Dominique", Jeannine Deckers became an overnight sensation. Little was known, or perhaps we never heard the end of her story, something Belgian filmmaker Stijn Coninx decided to present as a document about the famous nun.
Jeannine Deckers came from a working class family. She was a sort of a tomboy. When we first meet her, she is a girl scout. Jeannine grew up in a catholic environment, typical of the Belgium of the late 1950s. She always adored music; rock and roll was sweeping the world at that moment, so she felt attracted to the genre. Jeannine Deckers decided to dedicate her life trying to help poor Africans. When she joins a religious order, her family is completely baffled.
Ms. Deckers only had a good friend, Annie, who loved her in a different way. Jeannine tried to suppress her lesbian side by hiding in the convent. She had always a rebel streak in her, so it is a miracle she survived the life inside where the nuns were expected to work, pray and prepare themselves to do good. When her beloved guitar, that was confiscated as she entered the seminary, is given back to her, she begins to compose melodies, to which she made lyrics as she worked, based on the actions of the founder of the order.
The success of "Dominique" served to benefit the religious order where she belonged. She went to be a sensation because of her charisma and the way the song resonated with audiences. That same popularity will come back to haunt her. Because of the constrains of convent life, Jeannine decides she must leave to try to make it in the world. Little did she know the world was not ready for her kind of music.
Since her family repudiated her, the only possible solution was to go back to Annie's apartment. Her love for the young woman became a passion. Ultimately, the catholic church was the one that decided Jeannine was now someone they could not promote anymore. In other words, she could not earn the money she was making for the church. An American tour turned out to be a disaster. Jeannine got heavily into drugs and alcohol. When it was evident she had no way out, Annie and her decide to end it all.
The film is documentary style, as many biographies are. The director must be given credit for getting right the atmosphere of the times in which Jeannine lived. Casting Cecile De France in the leading role proved to be a stroke of genius. Ms. De France gives an amazing performance by transforming herself into Jeannine. Sandrine Blancke has some good opportunities in which to shine as Annie. Filip Peeters is also effective playing Antoine Brusson, the man that believed Jeannine had a chance to make it as a singer.
Jeannine Deckers came from a working class family. She was a sort of a tomboy. When we first meet her, she is a girl scout. Jeannine grew up in a catholic environment, typical of the Belgium of the late 1950s. She always adored music; rock and roll was sweeping the world at that moment, so she felt attracted to the genre. Jeannine Deckers decided to dedicate her life trying to help poor Africans. When she joins a religious order, her family is completely baffled.
Ms. Deckers only had a good friend, Annie, who loved her in a different way. Jeannine tried to suppress her lesbian side by hiding in the convent. She had always a rebel streak in her, so it is a miracle she survived the life inside where the nuns were expected to work, pray and prepare themselves to do good. When her beloved guitar, that was confiscated as she entered the seminary, is given back to her, she begins to compose melodies, to which she made lyrics as she worked, based on the actions of the founder of the order.
The success of "Dominique" served to benefit the religious order where she belonged. She went to be a sensation because of her charisma and the way the song resonated with audiences. That same popularity will come back to haunt her. Because of the constrains of convent life, Jeannine decides she must leave to try to make it in the world. Little did she know the world was not ready for her kind of music.
Since her family repudiated her, the only possible solution was to go back to Annie's apartment. Her love for the young woman became a passion. Ultimately, the catholic church was the one that decided Jeannine was now someone they could not promote anymore. In other words, she could not earn the money she was making for the church. An American tour turned out to be a disaster. Jeannine got heavily into drugs and alcohol. When it was evident she had no way out, Annie and her decide to end it all.
The film is documentary style, as many biographies are. The director must be given credit for getting right the atmosphere of the times in which Jeannine lived. Casting Cecile De France in the leading role proved to be a stroke of genius. Ms. De France gives an amazing performance by transforming herself into Jeannine. Sandrine Blancke has some good opportunities in which to shine as Annie. Filip Peeters is also effective playing Antoine Brusson, the man that believed Jeannine had a chance to make it as a singer.