Conspiracy of Hearts

I first saw this movie in 1960 when I was 10 and was taken to see it with my mother on our weekly Monday night visit to the Cinema. I didn't go out of choice, It was just for me and my mother to get out of my Fathers way so he could get on with jobs about the house. I can't remember many films that I saw at that time but this was one of the few that stuck in my mind. I suppose it was that I could identify with the Children as they were about my age and that it was about the war. Those of us born in the 40's and 50's grew up with stories about the war. It was certainly a topic for discussion I'm our household as my Father had been a radio operator in the RAF from 1939 onwards.

I can remember being deeply moved and disturbed by it even at that young age especially at the climatic ending. Since then I have seen it on TV as it occasionally pops up on UK TV often in the afternoons. The last time it appeared about 18 months ago I took the opportunity to record it on Video. I watch it when I need to renew my faith in mankind as it proves that even in the darkest times, there are people who will risk all for others and their beliefs and that goodness eventually triumphs over evil.

I worry that at some time in the not too distant future the extent of the evil perpetrated during the 1930s and 40s will be forgotten. Watch this film and remind yourself that unless all good people stand strong, every day and every hour, these sort of events will keep happening, over and over again.

In this shocking (certainly for 1960), depressing, heart-breaking, uplifting and surprisingly honest movie, we see that it is only through individuals taking personal responsibility for their actions that we can have any hope of building a world fit for our children.

When I see films like this, and read the positive response from reviewers on IMDb, I still have some hope for the future.

Please can this beautiful film regarding Christian suffering and the understanding of standing for principles of truth be re-released on DVD. Even though I am not a Catholic Christian, but of another part of the family of Christ, I attended a Catholic school and I just feel this a really beautiful film.May God Bless all those Christians that risked their lives to save Jews and the weak in Nazi Occupied Europe. I feel these kind of films must be shown to an ignorant generation of people that have forgotten the horrors of World War 2. The wish of those that gave their lives in World War 2 for freedom and peace is that "We don't forget".Even if we look at the World now there is still genocide still taking place against vulnerable people just because they are different or speak different.

Towards the end of the second world war, an order of Italian nuns makes all attempts to secure the freedom of Jewish children held captive in a local concentration camp. However when the camp comes under the direct control of German troops, the Sisters' task becomes increasingly dangerous.

Combing elements of The Von Trapp Story and Black Narcissus, Conspiracy of Hearts is a surprisingly powerful depiction of the clash between faith and might, as Palmer's Mother Superior stands firm against Lieven's uncompromising Nazi Colonel. The question of conscience and commitment to duty is repeatedly explored, from the perspective of both nun and soldier - Mitchell's Sister Gerta fears and doubts the Holy Order's actions, Sims' novitiate Sister Mitya is forced to confront her feelings towards Lewis's Major Spoletti, who in turn must choose between military duty and moral salvation. The juxtaposition between Catholicism and Judaism is also fascinatingly explored as the Sisters struggle to comprehend the facets of a different faith.

Universally well-performed by the ensemble, as usual its the supporting performances that stand out - Yvonne Mitchell was a power-house actress and at the peak of her film career (shockingly she is all but forgotten now), and her transformation from angry doubter to selfless devotee is totally believable. In addition, Ralph Thomas coaxes extraordinary performances from his juvenile cast - Rebecca Dignam and Joseph Cuby are beautifully moving without being cutesy or maudlin (Hollywood child actors take note!). At the heart, Palmer creates a depiction of quiet strength, dignity and humour even if we could have coped with a little less lipstick and mascara!

I first saw this film at the Mile End Odeon in East London when I was a kid. I was with a couple of friends and we thought that this film would be just another British war film. However, Mile End in those days still had a reasonably large Jewish population and older people all around us kids were openly weeping throughout the showing of the film. Later, in the foyer a woman told us that her family had been killed during the Hollocaust. A saw this film again quite recently on television and it really is quite a remarkable film. The characters have real depth and the the story about nuns sheltering Jewish children from the Nazis in Italy during World War II is not sentimentalised. The sub-plot concerning an unrequited love story between an Italian officer and a novice nun is is really well presented and does not intrude on the main story concerning Nazi ruthlessness and brutality towards the Jewish children and the nuns.