A new documentary film, ‘Final Vows’, features 11 Catholic nuns from the Cistercian Sisters of the Strict Observance, living in Sonoita, Arizona. The film, directed by Vicky Westover, provides an insight into the lives of these nuns at Santa Rita Abbey.
The film is set to premiere at the 21st annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in Montana. Out of 2,000 submissions, ‘Final Vows’ was one of the 150 selected for the festival and is in the running for this year’s feature competition. The festival will take place from February 15-26, and the film can be streamed online for a $10 fee between February 19-23.
Westover was motivated to make the film based on her personal experiences with nuns. The film aims to understand why women choose this lifestyle and to address common misconceptions about nuns. Shot over four and a half years, the film documents the lives of the nuns at Santa Rita Abbey.
Mother Superior Victoria Murray of Santa Rita Abbey expressed her hope that the film will inspire women to consider a life dedicated to God.