You know those movies that just sort of linger in the back of your brain long after the credits roll? Jim Sheridan’s 2016 film The Secret Scripture is exactly that kind of experience. It’s messy. It’s beautiful. Honestly, it’s kind of devastating. Based on the 2008 Booker Prize-shortlisted novel by Sebastian Barry, the film dives deep into a dark corner of Irish history that many people would rather forget. If you've ever wondered why the movie feels so heavy, it’s because it’s grappling with the weight of the Catholic Church’s historical grip on women’s lives.
The story follows Roseanne McNulty, an elderly woman played by the legendary Vanessa Redgrave, who has lived in the St. Jude’s mental institution for over fifty years. When the hospital is slated for demolition, Dr. Stephen Grene (Eric Bana) is tasked with evaluating whether she’s fit for release. What follows is a dual-timeline narrative that unspools Roseanne’s younger years, where she’s played by Rooney Mara. It’s a tale of forbidden love, religious zealotry, and a "secret" diary written in the margins of a Bible.
But here is the thing.
The movie isn't just a romance. It’s a critique of a society that used "mental illness" as a convenient rug to sweep away women who didn't fit the status quo.
The Real History Behind The Secret Scripture
To really get what’s happening in The Secret Scripture, you have to understand the Ireland of the 1940s. It wasn't just "conservative." It was a place where "social purity" was enforced by both the state and the clergy. Many viewers might think the plot is a bit melodramatic, but it actually draws from the very real and horrifying history of Magdalene Laundries and mother-and-baby homes.
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In the film, Roseanne is ostracized simply for being beautiful and independent. She’s an outsider in a small village. When she falls for a pilot named Michael McNulty (Jack Reynor), the local priest, Father Gaunt (Theo James), becomes obsessed with her "morality." It’s uncomfortable to watch. It should be. This wasn't some localized fiction; Ireland’s Mental Treatment Act of 1945 made it shockingly easy for family members or priests to commit people to institutions for "moral lapses."
Basically, if a woman was seen as "promiscuous" or even just "difficult," she could be locked away for decades.
Why Rooney Mara and Vanessa Redgrave Are Essential
Casting two different actors to play the same person at different life stages is always a gamble. Sometimes it feels disconnected. Here? It works. Rooney Mara brings this sort of ethereal, fragile-but-stubborn energy to the young Roseanne. You see her trying to navigate a world that is actively shrinking around her. Then you have Vanessa Redgrave. She’s a powerhouse. Her performance as the older Roseanne is filled with this quiet, flickering intelligence. She doesn't look like a "madwoman." She looks like someone who has been waiting fifty years to finally tell the truth.
The chemistry—or rather, the tension—between Mara and Theo James is where the movie gets its teeth. Father Gaunt isn't a cartoon villain. He’s a man who genuinely believes he is doing God’s work while simultaneously being driven by his own repressed desires. That’s a complex needle to thread.
That Controversial Ending (Spoilers Ahead)
If you’ve seen the film, you know the ending is... polarizing. Honestly, it’s the biggest point of contention for fans of the book. Sebastian Barry’s novel is famously lyrical and somewhat ambiguous, but Jim Sheridan opted for a much more "Hollywood" revelation.
In the book, the connection between Dr. Grene and Roseanne is handled with a bit more subtlety. In the movie, the reveal that Dr. Grene is actually Roseanne’s long-lost son—the baby she was told had died—is a massive emotional haymaker. Some critics felt it was too coincidental. Too neat. But if you look at it through the lens of a "circular" tragedy, it sort of fits the operatic tone Sheridan was going for. It transforms the movie from a historical drama into a fable about lost identity and the permanence of the maternal bond.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Movie
A common complaint is that the movie moves too slowly. I disagree. The pacing reflects the way memory works. It’s fragmented. It circles back on itself.
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Another misconception? That it’s purely an anti-Catholic film. It’s more nuanced than that. It’s about the misuse of power. It’s about how bureaucracy and religion can team up to erase an individual’s history. When Roseanne writes her "scripture" in the margins of her Bible, she’s literally reclaiming her narrative from the institution that tried to overwrite it.
Practical Takeaways for Fans of Irish Cinema
If The Secret Scripture sparked an interest in this specific era of storytelling or Irish history, you shouldn't just stop at the credits. There is so much more to explore that provides context to Roseanne’s struggle.
- Read the Source Material: Sebastian Barry’s prose is stunning. The book offers a much deeper look into Roseanne’s internal monologue and the sheer poetry of her survival.
- Watch Philomena (2013): If the theme of lost children and institutional cover-ups hit home, Philomena is a must-watch. It’s based on the true story of Philomena Lee and her 50-year search for her son.
- Research the Magdalene Laundries: To understand the "why" behind Roseanne’s imprisonment, look into the Justice for Magdalenes Research (JFMR) organization. It provides the factual backbone for why stories like this need to be told.
- Explore Jim Sheridan’s Filmography: The director is a master of Irish stories. From My Left Foot to In the Name of the Father, he’s always been interested in people crushed by systems.
The movie isn't perfect. The third act might feel a little rushed for some. But it’s an important piece of cinema because it refuses to let the past stay buried. It forces us to look at Roseanne—not as a patient, not as a "fallen woman," but as a human being who refused to be forgotten.
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To truly appreciate the film, watch it a second time and pay attention to the colors. The vibrant, almost hyper-real flashbacks of the 1940s contrast sharply with the muted, sterile greys of the hospital in the "present" day. It’s a visual representation of how Roseanne’s memories are more alive to her than the world she’s currently trapped in.
If you’re looking for a film that challenges your perspective on history and leaves you with a lot to talk about, The Secret Scripture is definitely worth the watch. Just make sure you have some tissues handy. You're going to need them.
Next Steps for the Viewer
To deepen your understanding of the film’s themes, your next move should be exploring the historical context of the 1945 Mental Treatment Act in Ireland. Understanding how legally simple it was to commit individuals without trial provides the necessary "horrified" perspective required to fully grasp Roseanne's plight. Additionally, comparing the film's ending to the final chapters of Sebastian Barry's novel will highlight the distinct differences between cinematic storytelling and literary ambiguity, offering a masterclass in how adaptations reshape narrative intent.