| The Nun | |
|---|---|
 French theatrical release poster | |
| French | La Religieuse |
| Directed by | Guillaume Nicloux |
| Written by |
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| Based on | La Religieuse by Denis Diderot |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Yves Cape |
| Edited by | Guy Lecorne |
| Music by | Max Richter |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Le Pacte (France) |
Release dates |
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Running time | 100 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Language | French |
| Budget | €5.5 million[1] |
The Nun (French: La Religieuse) is a 2013 French drama film directed by Guillaume Nicloux. It is based on the 18th-century novel La Religieuse by French writer Denis Diderot. The film premiered in competition at the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival.[2] It received two nominations at the 4th Magritte Awards, winning Best Actress for Pauline Étienne,[3] and a nomination at the 39th César Awards.[4] Production companies included Les Films du Worso, Belle Epoque Films and Versus Production.[5]
Plot
Taking place in the 1760s France, a young girl named Suzanne Simonin is forced by her parents to become a nun. She learns that as an illegitimate child, she is expected to atone for her mother's sin. Her abbess treats her kindly, but when the abbess dies and another takes her place, Suzanne considers breaking her vows. Due to the maltreatment and physical abuse she undergoes, she is thrown into a world of punishment in which she suffers dehumanization. Suzanne is filled with despair and mental torment. It is not until a friend gives Suzanne some hope that she may not have to remain a nun forever and that Suzanne's punishment lifts.
Cast
- Pauline Étienne as Suzanne Simonin
- Isabelle Huppert as Abbess Saint Eutrope
- Louise Bourgoin as Abbess Christine
- Martina Gedeck as Suzanne's mother
- Françoise Lebrun as Madame de Moni
- Agathe Bonitzer as Sister Thérèse
- Alice de Lencquesaing as Sister Ursule
- Gilles Cohen as Suzanne's father
- Marc Barbé as Father Castella
- François Négret as Maître Manouri
- Nicolas Jouhet as clergyman Sainte Marie
- Pascal Bongard as Archdeacon
- Fabrizio Rongione as Father Morante
Reception
The Hollywood Reporter's Jordan Mintzer highlighted that director Nicloux and his co-writer Beaujour breathed new life into the classic story by making the protagonist "much more of a fighting spirit" and by adding a "revised ending". He said this film was "held together by a terrific lead performance".[6] Variety's Boyd van Hoeij certified the film was "slickly assembled" and frequently provided a "painting-like" cinematography.[7] Cine Vue's Patrick Gamble judged The Nun suffered from an "inability to deviate from absurdity".[8]
Awards and nominations
| Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin International Film Festival | Golden Berlin Bear | Guillaume Nicloux | Nominated |
| César Awards | Most Promising Actress | Pauline Etienne | Nominated |
| Lumiere Awards | Most Promising Young Actress | Pauline Etienne | Nominated |
| Magritte Awards | Best Foreign Film in Coproduction | Nominated | |
| Best Actress | Pauline Etienne | Won |
See also
References
- ↑ "La Religieuse". JP's Box-Office.
- ↑ "Berlinale Competition 2013: Another Nine Films Confirmed". berlinale. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
- ↑ Lorfèvre, Alain (1 February 2014). "Trois Magritte pour "Ernest et Célestine"". La Libre Belgique (in French). Retrieved 3 February 2014.
- ↑ "Berenice Bejo, Lea Seydoux, Roman Polanski Among France's Cesar Awards Nominees". Hollywood Reporter. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
- ↑ Mintzer, Jordan (10 February 2013). "The Nun (La Religieuse): Berlin Review". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ↑ "The Nun (La Religieuse): Berlin Review". The Hollywood Reporter. 10 February 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
- ↑ "'The Nun' review". Variety. 10 February 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
- ↑ "Berlin Film Festival 2013: 'The Nun' review". Cine Vue. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
External links
- Official Press Kit
- The Nun at UniFrance films
- The Nun at IMDb