[Movie][My Sister's Regretful Death] "Sister Act" taught me that anyone can sing at any time & the final gospel of my sister who died with regrets

If you want to sing, you can start today
[Sister Act]
(1992 / American film / Director: Emile Ardolino)

■ Genre / Musical, Comedy, Human Drama
■ Enjoyability for everyone / ★★★★☆ (Almost anyone is fine, but at least you should like music)
■ Aftertaste / ★★★★★ (The best!)

(These are my personal impressions)

※ The following contains spoilers for the movie

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　Just as I was thinking about writing about this movie, the news of Maggie Smith's passing arrived (September 2024). I loved her performances, which conveyed a strict yet warm humanity, such as the Mother Superior in "Sister Act" and Professor McGonagall in the "Harry Potter" series. Thank you.
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■ What is this!? Surprise and excitement at my first gospel

　Movies sometimes bring culture shock. For me, "Sister Act" was exactly that.

　I missed it when it was released in Japan in 1993, and I think I first watched it on a rental video a few years later, when I was about 20. The impact of the first viewing was incredible. A choir (nuns!) singing and dancing while clapping. No, not just the singers, even the conductor was singing and dancing with enthusiasm. For me, having experienced orthodox choral singing in local choirs since I was a child, it was a shock and an excitement that gave me goosebumps.

　--What is this? Oh, gospel!? No wait, I've seen this somewhere before...

　Then I remembered the 1980 American film "Fame," which I had watched on rental during high school. Seeing the students singing rhythmically while clapping during their graduation performance at the art school, I thought, "That's cool! I want to try that too. But what is this singing style? Where is it done?" The answer arrived abruptly a few years later. This is it... this!

■ A gospel choir had formed in my town too

　It might seem obvious and not strange at all to the younger generation, but at the time, this style of "choral" singing with clapping and choreography was almost non-existent... or rather, it hadn't permeated the general public (musicals and professional stages were a different story).

　However, thanks to the huge success of this movie, gospel spread rapidly in Japan, and amateur gospel choirs increased in various places (as far as I know). When I looked it up, I found that several groups were active in the town where I lived.

　Wait for me, I'll join someday... I said to the source's homepage (even that was a rare thing in those days) on my own. By the way, at this time, I was working at a magazine editorial department where working all night was the norm, so my wish would come true a little later.

■ "Sister Act" is this kind of movie

　
　Well, it's a bit late, but the plot of the movie "Sister Act" is something like this. It's a very famous movie, so I think many people know it.

　In the first half, the growth of the choir is truly moving.
　They are different people... no, it's like a different group. Honestly, until a few days ago, it wasn't even music (sorry).
　But I don't think they were simply bad. I think they just didn't know how to do it or lacked confidence (though there were members who seemed mysteriously confident from the beginning, haha).

　So what Deloris did was not to "train them into semi-pro singers," but to teach them how to express themselves and give them confidence (her original humanity can be glimpsed from the fact that she is good at praising). This feels very good. The specific lesson scenes don't appear much, but I'm sure Deloris kept saying this.

--Yeah, that's great! Let's try it like this a little more. You can do it, you can do it, look, you did it!

　I think so largely because of my own experience of singing in choirs and choral clubs. Because--.

■ Deloris is an extremely "good at praising" choral instructor

　Choral conductors and instructors who deal with almost amateur members are (many of them) really good at drawing out "motivation, confidence, and potential" from members with varying skills and experiences.

　As far as I know, excellent instructors are almost always "good at praising." Even if the voices coming from everyone are different from their own ideals, they patiently unite everyone in terms of technique and spirit to create one piece of music. And they encourage them so much. Their hospitality is also extraordinary.

　So, having realized what an amazing choir director Deloris was, my heart was even more touched (in reality, people like that really do exist in the music world).

　And among the choir members, the most memorable one is Sister Mary Robert, who is the only one wearing a jumper-like outfit (apparently, she is a novice).
　She is very shy but actually possesses incredible talent, and Deloris, having spotted that, entrusts her with a solo in the new choir's first performance (the best part).
　The scene where they perform the song "Hail Holy Queen" is moving in so many ways, and I think it is a famous scene that will remain in the history of musical films. What's so good about it is,
　The lively expressions of the choir members.
　The young people who gather because of the music heard from the church, who usually seem to have no connection to the church (the priest who beckons them to come in is also great).
　Deloris's conducting, which is even sharper than the singers.
　And Sister Mary Robert's expression, surprised and moved by her own voice.
　Amidst all this, the Mother Superior who is the only one furious (laughs) ← This leads to the moving finale.

■ Music and writing: "Expression is a human joy"

　Sister Mary Robert, who is "surprised by herself" while singing, broke out of her shell, met a new version of herself, and learned the joy of expression. Good for you, you found what you can do! -- This scene is truly moving.

　It's not just about singing; I think expressing oneself is simply a human joy of living.
　noto is the same. It is certainly happy to have many people read and appreciate it, but more than that, as a human being, being able to "express" first leads to the strength to live. This movie is full of that joy, and while Deloris plays the role of conveying that to the choir, I think Deloris herself also encountered her own "talent for bringing out the talent in others" through meeting them.

　Yes, Deloris is not the type to be content as a mafia mistress; she was always meant to be somewhere else. This is also expressed in the second half when the mafia henchman confronts Deloris and says, "You can't kill a nun." Although it is depicted as a gag scene, this is a very dramatic moment. I think it is a well-made script with no waste.

■ Regaining the desire to "sing" through an encounter with a movie

　
　Now, going back a little, I encountered this movie at 20, and when I was 27 and able to work at my own pace, I finally joined the gospel choir I had longed for.
　After that, I spent several years singing and dancing to my heart's content—and at the same time, the switch to "I want to sing more" was flipped, and I also joined an amateur choir because I wanted to do orthodox choral music as well. There are many painful things in life, but those were years where I savored the joy of having things I love and having a place to be.

　By the way, when I asked my gospel friends, most of the members at the time said, "I got interested because of that movie!" I was surprised by its influence, and we could talk about it endlessly, never running out of things to say. Movies are great.

　The relationships I built through singing from my late 20s to my 30s have had a major influence on how I live my life now. It's not so much that I'm glad I watched "Sister Act," but rather the feeling of "what kind of life would I be living now if I hadn't watched it..." is greater.

　
　-- If it ended here, it would just be my own experience.

　But there is a little continuation to this story. It is about my late sister and her first and last gospel performance.

■ My sister's first and last gospel in life

　-- From here on, I would be happy if only those who are interested would read this.

　I have a sister who passed away in her 40s a few years ago. She is the sister who appears in the pinned article My sister with zero life expectancy, unable to see her child due to slow mediation, died with regrets (If you are interested, please read it ↓↓ There is also a second part).

　About a year before her life ended, my sister stood on a gospel stage. It was her first and last, and it was a magnificent stage.

　At that time, her illness had already progressed, and although she was managing her daily life somehow, she was unable to have visitation with her only daughter, the mediation was progressing slowly, and she was spending uneasy days while going to the hospital, when she suddenly asked me.

　-- Hey, I want to try singing like you too. Is there any fun project or something where I can participate in practice for a little bit and stand on stage...?

While supporting my sister through her illness and mediation, I was also managing my own housework and childcare. I was exhausted and thought about immediately replying, "There's no such convenient story as the one you're talking about, Sis," but I stopped myself. Wait a minute... actually, there is.

It's a gospel workshop.

A workshop hosted by Keiko-sensei, the leader of the gospel choir I used to belong to, was coming up in two months, and she had asked me, "Would you like to join if you're free?" I couldn't make it, but I thought, isn't this perfect for my sister? I chuckled a little at the perfect timing.

—Yes, there is.

You pay a participation fee, learn a few relatively low-difficulty (depending on the case) gospel songs over a few practices, and stand on stage for a concert. There are quite a lot of projects like this in gospel. My sister had some choir experience as a child, but she was a beginner at gospel. Still, workshops are designed to be welcoming to everyone.

In the first place, gospel is a chorus that is more accessible to people who want to try it and enjoy it, regardless of musical skill or experience, compared to orthodox choral singing—that is gospel. I think the reason it has permeated Japan, where there are by no means many Christians, is that its generosity as a musical expression and its dynamic appeal have broadened the gateway for singers.

Even so, if you don't have experience yourself, it's hard to introduce it to others. It was a moment when I felt even more glad that I had done gospel.

I conveyed my sister's situation to Keiko-sensei and signed her up, and I received a reply immediately.

"I won't give her special treatment, but I will make accommodations for her physical condition. I will definitely get your sister on that stage. Leave it to me!"

That was the kind of person Keiko-sensei was. I almost cried as I bowed my head repeatedly to the smartphone that had received the email.

■ Three songs with all her might... and a miraculous solo (soli) performance

And so, two months later, my sister stood on stage.
She had about five practices until the actual performance. She missed only one due to a fever, but she worked hard to attend the rest, and she also practiced on her own at home using recordings and lyric sheets. She had been doing a little work because she insisted, "I want to work," so she was working, battling her illness, and doing her best with the mediation for visitation with her daughter. All while carrying loneliness and anxiety.

"I managed to do my best and made it this far. Come listen tomorrow," she said. I worried whether she could even sing with that thin body, but I took her two young daughters to the hall and watched over the stage.

Still, I thought, it would be fine even if she made a few mistakes, she's trying too hard at practice... But no matter what I said, she wouldn't listen.

At the concert, in addition to my sister, about 20 other workshop participants and other gospel choirs led by Keiko-sensei sang together, and my sister was in the front row of those dozens of people, singing as magnificently as if she weren't ill at all.
Singing all the songs in English, with choreography, and a smile. Beside me, my two daughters, who knew nothing, were clapping along, saying, "Auntie is so cool!" In front of them, I had decided I would absolutely not cry.

"I want to try singing on stage like you..." my sister had said. She didn't say "for the last time in my life," but she must have meant it.

And after the scheduled three songs were finished, something a bit surprising happened. Keiko-sensei took the microphone and said to the packed venue:

"Hi everyone, thank you! For the encore song, the workshop members will sing one phrase each in pairs, so please listen!"

I couldn't believe my ears. As far as I know, it's rare for workshop members to sing solos at a concert (in this case, it was two people at a time, so it was a "soli"). Usually, someone from the regular choir... someone skilled, takes charge.

While I was thinking, "Is she okay!?", the song started, and to my surprise, my sister was the first one up. She took the microphone handed to her by Keiko-sensei and sang just one phrase.
Her partner for the soli was a large male participant with a wonderful deep bass voice. My sister's thin voice was covered by that bass, and although it threatened to fade away at times, she managed to sing it through to the end (it must have been easier to sing because there was literally a bass).

And, perhaps it should be called a miracle, because her voice quality was so different from that man's, my sister's thin voice actually stood out, and without being drowned out, it reached the audience properly.

■ "Thank you! Gospel was the best"

"Wow, Auntie's singing was good," said my eldest niece, who was particularly close to my sister, happily. This child, too, would soon experience a sad farewell.
And I was convinced. This was Keiko-sensei's surprise...
Even if I asked, "Did you plan this for my sister?", she probably wouldn't say yes. So I haven't asked to this day, but because that's the kind of person she is, I know.

Because gospel and choir leaders are all people who are good at drawing out "motivation, confidence, and potential" from each and every singer. Their hospitality is also extraordinary. And they encourage you so much.

After the performance, I was waiting in the lobby when my sister came out looking excited, her face flushed as she said, 'Thank you, gospel was amazing! This is addictive. I finally understand how the people performing feel.' It had been a long time since I had seen such a smile on my sister's face.

I was surprised when she told me, 'I want to sing too,' but among the things I was able to do for my sister while she was battling her illness, I think introducing her to this workshop was, if I do say so myself, my best job ever.
While I was happy that I was doing gospel, I also felt regret. Because, sister, if it was that much fun, and if you had wanted to sing for a long time, you could have started at any time. After all, gospel is something anyone can sing, at any time.

Two months after this concert ended, my sister was given a prognosis of 'three months at most,' and she passed away eight months later. In the end, she couldn't even meet her beloved daughter, and this gospel experience was almost the only good memory she had during her battle with illness and the mediation process. Even now, when I look back on it, I feel regret and loneliness, and it brings me to tears, but at the same time, it warms my heart to think that it was a wonderful day.

■ Are you still singing now?

The video of the concert arrived in my hands later as a DVD (it was actually a retail product, but Keiko-sensei gave it to me as a secret gift).

I don't have the confidence to watch it without crying, so I haven't played it even once to this day, but when I close my eyes, I remember it.

My sister that day was like Sister Mary Robert. Of course, she wasn't as good as her, but the joy of thinking, 'Even I can do it if I try,' was overflowing from her thin body. Keiko-sensei, who was conducting powerfully, was also as cool as Deloris.

And finally, I would like to write about one more impressive event that happened at the concert.

Among the workshop participants who gave short speeches on 'Gospel and Me,' a 60-year-old former nurse said this:

'My life has been nothing but work, but I wanted to try something, so I challenged myself with gospel for the first time. I'm so happy now to think that even at this age, even I can do it. I want to continue doing this forever.'

—I still occasionally wonder how that woman is doing. Even though I don't even know her name, I pray that she has stood on stage many times since then and is enjoying gospel.

With gratitude to the movie 'Sister Act'.

I have written about several movies. Please feel free to take a look below↓↓↓

By the way, the second part, which details why my sister could not meet her children until the end, is here↓↓↓

This is my self-introduction↓↓↓