Inquiring Nuns (1968)

Inquiring Nuns is a straightforward man-on-the-street slice-of-life time capsule dated 1968 in Chicago. Two fresh-faced nuns are given a cameraman and a microphone, instructed how to hold and point the microphone, and quasi-directed to ask anyone they choose "Are you happy?" as well as any followup questions they deem fitting. The result of these two women's amateur ad hoc interviews is a sincere and often insightful snapshot into what proved to be the most turbulent decade of my lifetime. This snapshot is urbane since those approached for interviews are generally inside the Loop, outside a Catholic church, or in the Field Museum of Industry and Science but interviewees are mixed in racial and philosophical makeup -- from the four men who reveal themselves to be seminarians from Denver to black and white folks from nearly every situation in life. (Steppin Fetchit happened to be one of the respondees.) The earnest and articulate responses of many interviewees, mixed with the casual or spontaneous responses of others, may help build your hope in the greater angels of our human nature -- esp. when considered against the backdrop of our increasingly more rancorous society today, some 42 years later. The disc also includes a 14-minute followup featurette, conducted 40 years later by schoolchildren. (I had to acquire this disc through a competing service to view and rate it since it is a Save title on this service.) Enjoy! 3 stars. (11-29-10, posted 6-2-11, updated 3-2-16)