TIFF25: “Nuns vs. the Vatican” is a Powerful Piece of Documentary Journalism
This review was originally published on Film Obsessive.
This is not your grandmother’s Conclave. Last year, Edward Berger’s tautly woven film of papal thrills painted a picture of a Catholic Church that was looking to the future. One that embraced new ideas and respected tradition, while also understanding that the world has changed. In the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival world-premiering Nuns vs. the Vatican, things aren’t so modern. The documentary by Emmy-winning Lorena Luciano is a searing look at religion today and the long-reaching impacts of silence on those who are looking for spiritual enlightenment.
Nuns vs. the Vatican is a documentary about the abuse that occurs within Catholicism and the myriad of ways these crimes are hidden from the public. We’ve seen several bombshell investigations into sexual abuse of minors in the Church, but the spotlight has never been turned toward the nuns. Nuns vs. the Vatican is another layer of the systematic sexual violence that is often ignored. We are introduced early on to Gloria, a former nun who recounts the time she spent working with Jesuit Father Marko Rupnik. He’s known in the Catholic communities for his mosaic murals that have been commissioned all over the world. One of his works is in the Vatican, which only shows how deep and powerful his allies are.
courtesy of TIFF
“You can’t just walk away from church,” says one of the women featured in the film. People like to say victims should just leave the situation that’s causing them harm, as though it’s an easy decision. When it comes to these nuns and the Church, it’s even more of a difficult decision. They’ve devoted their lives to this work because they believe in helping people, but as women, they’re taught obedience above all else. Their beliefs taught them that subservience was the holiest way they could live, and it’s because of these repeated teachings that they felt they couldn’t voice their concerns. Who do you report an assault to when the leader of your community is the one assaulting you? Beyond that, church is a place of community, worship, and connection. All of that is taken away the second you speak out. In Catholicism, because of the required confession, some of these priests know the secrets and insecurities of not just the nuns, but their whole family too. Religion is an insidious snare when abused, but a place of hope when it lives up to the true teachings.
courtesy of TIFF
“Don’t show my face or my relatives will kill me,” says another woman, who recounts her trauma as she makes pasta for dinner. The camera focuses on items around the house, her hands, anything other than this woman’s face. Her story is particularly difficult to hear, and it’s hard to imagine that her relatives could listen to this story and still believe she was in the wrong. It’s heartbreaking to see survivors afraid to speak out like this, especially to their own families. This religion teaches kindness and believes in keeping families together, but people sure are quick to turn their backs on one another. Nuns vs. the Vatican balances out the frustrating lack of action by the Church with individuals in the community who make an effort to right these wrongs. Many of the nuns who experienced abuse left the Church and had no real means of contacting each other. Nuns vs. the Vatican captures the reunion of some of these old friends. The circumstances they’re meeting under are not ideal, but when they see each other after all this time apart, the years fall away. They’re smiley, giddy, and young again with their friends.
It can be overwhelming to hear about one awful news event after another, but Nuns vs. the Vatican argues that it’s better to know the truth because then something can be done about it. The documentary shows the audience a battle that’s already in progress. There are so many more victims whose stories haven’t been told, and while we may not be able to fix the systemic abuses of powerful people, we can listen and learn to make sure they cannot happen again. Nuns vs. the Vatican is brave, journalistic storytelling in the name of justice.
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