IN video recently released by the VaticanPapa Leo discovered that The Sound of Music one of his favorite films.
The 1965 film musical is about a young, ambitious nun named Maria, played by Julie Andrews, who is sent from a convent to become a governess for the seven children of a retired naval officer named Captain Georg von Trapp, played by Christopher Plummer.
Meanwhile, the rising tide of fascism in Austria becomes too difficult to ignore, and the Von Trapp family's lives change forever.
Given its themes of love, hope and compassion, it's perhaps not surprising that the Hollywood classic resonates with the leader of the Catholic Church.
This seal of approval comes in what has already been a banner year for fans of the film. The Sound of Music Turned 60 this year.
The anniversary was celebrated with a limited international theatrical re-release, including a restored and remastered version in 4K, as well as a 4K Ultra HD version available for purchase on digital and Blu-Ray. The musical will tour North America later this month in Toronto.
But over time and distance, beloved and nostalgic works of art do not always reach modern audiences. So where does it come from? The Sound of Music stand?
According to John Barker, crEative Managing Director based in UK digital content center All the right moviesthis film still holds a strong place both in the lists of the best films and in the lives of people around the world.
WATCH | Do-Re-Mi from The Sound of Music, in 4K:
“I think filmmaking is on par with anything Hollywood produces. And musically… there aren't many musicals, if any, that have as many classics on the soundtrack as The sound of music– said Barker. Some of the classic tunes include Bye, goodbye; Climb Mount Evry And Sixteen continues. Seventeen.
“It's very beloved because I think it brings people together. That's really hard to do at any time, let alone something that resonates across decades like this,” Barker said.
The Sound of Music is a constant occurrence all year round for many people around the world. New York Times journalist Jim Tankersley reported that the film generates “millions of dollars in tourism revenue” for Austria each year through filming location tours and events celebrating its legacy.
And with the annual return of “warm woolen mittens” and “brown paper bags tied with string,” as the song mentions. My favorite things There are screenings accompanied by singing in cinemas around the world. Throughout the holiday season, television shows seemingly endless reruns of the film.
Barker believes Andrews' multifaceted performance as Maria captured the hearts and minds of audiences for years to come.
“I think Maria could be completely insufferable. She's very serious. She's always positive, always cheerful about everything, but they instill – and a lot through Julie Andrews – this sense of awkwardness in her, and also vulnerability and this insecurity in her too.
“She's full of doubt, which I think makes her resonate more as a character and as a focal point in the film,” Barker said.
How to solve a problem like Maria?
Considering that she has not only seen the play more than 30 times, but also published a novel this year based on the production The Sound of Musicsafe to say, the author is from Saskatoon Meredith Hambrock spent a lot of time thinking about this story.
For herThere are elements of the film that haven't aged so well, and they start with Maria.
In today's world, where the term “trade wife” has gained so much popularity that it has been added to the Cambridge Dictionary, Hambrock says Maria's plot lands less triumphantly.
“I think at the time her character was maybe seen as more transgressive, right? Like, she's irresponsible and she sings and she runs… and she… rebels against the convent and all that. But I think now that we're looking at it again, we kind of see her as a woman whose story ends when she gets married, right?
“It’s really frustrating,” Hambrock said. “What you like about her is that she's willing to stand up for the kids and makes them silly outfits… But at the end of the day, she's… a very prim, proper, serious person. We're kind of losing that kind of joie de vivre.”
Hambrock said the film also focuses on Baroness Elsa von Schroeder, with whom Captain von Trapp was romantically involved before meeting Maria, but it seems one-dimensional.
“It's a deeply disappointing story about how a free woman is some kind of threat,” Hambrock said. “Especially someone as powerful as Baroness von Schröder… The choices Baroness von Schröder makes are harsh to me, but they are choices. Whereas Maria is someone who cannot make choices.”
Barker sees that watching Maria move from living “independently” to being a traditional wife and surrogate mother may not resonate with younger audiences today. He also agrees that Von Schroeder's character is seen as somewhat of a “dated trope”.
However, hHe said he thought it was probably unfair to “judge a film made in 1965 by its sensibility in 2025.”because it was not made by people who had any idea what the events would be like.”
“They did it for the times they were in,” Barker said.
He also said that there are nuances in Maria's relationship with the captain that support her sense of power and agency and “doesn't undermine the film's core themes and message.”
At the same time, he suspects that “it would probably be written a little differently now if it came out now.”
“A Truly Timeless Story”
Hambrock agrees that despite its age-related flaws, the film is still “a truly timeless story that still resonates today.”
“Can we look at our world right now and say, who are the wealthy leaders who are… standing up to fascism instead of, you know, seeing this rise of authoritarianism and seeing it as a great business opportunity?” Hambrock said.
Likewise, Barker said that the film's legacy was already cemented by its influence on films that came after it and how it could inspire future directors.
“I think you see [the] the influence of this is still in things like Lord of the Rings — these amazing views of the mountains and things like that. The seriousness of the tone, I think other directors definitely picked up on that…
“Hollywood films have really become a little afraid to show their emotions. I'm not saying that sometimes you shouldn't do that, but I think a lot of modern films… would benefit from maybe going back at least a little bit to The Sound of Music in some ways a little more.”
