SCHANZENHOF, MB
More than fifty years after it hit the big screen, beloved Julie Andrews musical The Sound of Music still stirs up debate and controversy in Mennonite communities.
“Back in the 60s, some classmates told me about the scene where the von Trapp children fall into the water,” explained Ruth Unrau of Schanzenhof. “I just knew these were not the sort of kids my parents would like me associating with – the type who go see such filth.”
While a few rebellious Mennonites might sneak into a showing at some Winnipeg theatre, most southern Manitobans only heard rumours about the controversial film about a nun who sings pleasant songs with children.
“I still haven’t seen the movie,” explained Unrau. “We didn’t go into movie theatres back then and I still don’t. What if someone might see me?”
Unrau’s 19-year-old granddaughter Lizzie, however, said she got her friend Dawson to download it from some torrent site and they smoked a pack of cigarettes and watched it on his iPhone in between make-out sessions.
“I’m not so keen that she watched The Sound of Music,” said Grandma Unrau, “but I’m impressed with Lizzie’s commitment to stay out of movie theatres.”
(Photo credit: by ralphhogaboom/CCmodified)