HOLY DAYS
(director/writer: Nathalie Boltt; screenwriter: novel by Joy Cowley; cinematographer: Thomas Bursyn; editor: Carly Turner; music: Karl Solve Steven; cast: Judy Davis (Sister Agnes), Mariam Margolyes (Sister Luke), Jacki Weaver (Sister Mary Clare), Eliijah Tamati (Brian Collins), Craig Hall (Joe Collins), Jonny Brugh (Father Findlay), Renaye Tamati (Paula), Colin Moy (Harry Greaves), Tanea Heke (Patricia Ngata), John Bach (Bishop Chaytor), Tuakoi Ohia (Emere); Runtime: 101; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Victoria Dabbs, Roxi Bull, Sushant Desai, Michelle Morris, Emma Slade; Blue Fox Entertainment/CBC Films; 2026-New Zealand/Canada)
“An old-fashioned, feel-good period road comedy.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
An old-fashioned, feel-good period road comedy by Nathalie Boltt, the South African actress, in her feature film debut. It’s based on the 2000 novel by Joy Cowley.
Living in a run-down New Zealand convent in 1974 are three elderly nuns: Sister Agnes (Judy Davis), Sister Mary Clare (Jacki Weaver), and Sister Luke (Mariam Margolyes), who become faced with eviction. The untrustworthy gambler and alcoholic Father Findlay (Jonny Brugh) secretly acts with the greedy new Bishop Chaytor (John Bach) to sell the convent property to developers, leaving them without a home after many years working there.
The nuns borrow the priest’s red station wagon and go to South Island to see if they can retrieve the deed with the help of their lawyer Patricia Ngata (Tanea Heke). She’s the aunt of the saddened local boy Brian (Eliijah Tamati). His mom, who worked for the nuns, has recently died. He’s also crushed that his father Joe Collins (Craig Hall) is marrying Liz (Nat Boltt), after saying he would take him on a trip to a mythical mountain.
The feisty nuns are easy to root for as they deal with their situation in their quirky sisterly ways, and also whisk the kid off to visit his magical mountain.
The photography and performances by the nuns are super good. Though the story is contrived and the gags are strained, the film still makes for good family entertainment.
REVIEWED ON 3/31/2026 GRADE: B-
dennisschwartzreviews.com