The Nun (2013 film)
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]
| The Nun | |
|---|---|
 French theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Guillaume Nicloux |
| Produced by | Sylvie Pialat Jacques-Henri Bronckart Olivier Bronckart |
| Written by | Guillaume Nicloux Jérôme Beaujour |
| Based on | La Religieuse by Denis Diderot |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Max Richter |
| Cinematography | Yves Cape |
| Edited by | Guy Lecorne |
| Distributed by | Le Pacte (France) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 100 minutes |
| Country | France Belgium Germany |
| Language | French |
| Budget | €5.5 million[1] |
Plot
The young 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 she undergoes, she is thrown into a world of punishment. It is not until a friend gives Suzanne some hope that she may not have to remain a nun forever that Suzanne's punishment lifts.
Cast
- Pauline Étienne as Suzanne
- 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
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".[5] Variety's Boyd van Hoeij certified the film was "slickly assembled" and frequently provided a "painting-like" cinematography.[6] Cine Vue's Patrick Gamble judged The Nun suffered from an "inability to deviate from absurdity".[7]
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
- Isabelle Huppert on screen and stage
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. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
- "The Nun (La Religieuse): Berlin Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
- "'The Nun' review". Variety. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
- "Berlin Film Festival 2013: 'The Nun' review". Cine Vue. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
External links
- Official Press Kit (in English)
- The Nun at UniFrance films
- The Nun on IMDb