Novitiate
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Novitiate |
| Original title | Novitiate |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 2017 |
| length | 123 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 12 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Maggie Betts |
| script | Maggie Betts |
| production |
Carole Peterman , Celine Rattray , Trudie Styler |
| music | Christopher Stark |
| camera | Kat Westergaard |
| cut | Susan E. Morse |
| occupation | |
| |
Novitiate is an American film from 2017 . The film drama is the feature film debut of American director Maggie Betts , who also wrote the script. The production is about a young woman who in the 1960s, shortly after the Second Vatican Council , decides to become a nun , but not long after entering a monastery, she doubts her decision due to the abbess's strict, old-fashioned and brutal methods . The title refers to the English name for the novitiate .
Novitiate premiered on January 20 at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival and hit US theaters on October 27 of the same year. The film was not shown in theaters in Germany, but was released on DVD and Blu-Ray on March 29, 2018 .
action
In 1954, seven-year-old Cathleen Harris lived with her mother Nora and father Chuck in a rural area of Tennessee . Nora is a factory worker and agnostic , but wants Cathleen to decide on her own faith, so she shows her a church for the first time in her life. That same night Chuck comes home drunk and has an argument with Nora, whereupon he leaves and does not come back. As a result, Nora always has one-night stands .
At the age of 12, Cathleen receives a visit from two nuns who offer her to switch to a Catholic girls' school . With good grades, Cathleen is given the prospect of free preparatory lessons and a scholarship for a college of her choice. In 1964, after an unpleasant encounter with a lover of her mother, Cathleen decides to leave home and dedicate her life entirely to God .
Cathleen goes to a convent with twenty other young women . This is directed by the strict, cold-hearted and conservative abbess Marie Saint-Clair. During weekly religious chapters women must confess their sins and fear accusations from others. As a penance , Marie orders them to use several brutal methods, including a tied whip with which they are supposed to flagellate themselves.
In complete contrast to Marie is the novice master Mary Grace, who is young, friendly and progressive. She always tries to make the strictly regulated everyday life in the monastery a little easier, but Cathleen doesn't want to know anything about it and rarely spends her free time with the other women, preferring to read her Bible . Meanwhile, Marie receives letters from Archbishop McCarthy because she does not want to follow the provisions of the Second Vatican Council . When Mary Grace sees the documents and notes that changes would be good for the monastery, she and Marie get into an argument, which is why Mary Grace decides after a prayer to leave the abbey.
After six months, Cathleen is appointed a novice , while Marie becomes increasingly strict. One night when Cathleen notices that she has masturbated in her sleep , she is so ashamed that she no longer eats and completely breaks off contact with her colleagues. When Nora visits her to tell her that Chuck has died, she is appalled because of her pale and emaciated daughter. She threatens Marie, who replies that Cathleen is no longer hers, but God's daughter. At dinner, Cathleen finally collapses from hunger and dehydration , which is why she comes to the infirmary for a few days and befriends sister Emanuel. One night she sneaks into Emanuel's room, where they kiss and sleep together. Cathleen then resumes feeding and is happy, but does not talk to Emanuel about the night.
During a visit from Archbishop McCarthy, he noted that the abbey was having difficulty implementing the changes made by the council. Marie dismisses this as ridiculous, whereupon McCarthy replies that she will be replaced if she does not stick to it and, above all, does not stop the old-fashioned penances. Marie then falls into a crisis of faith and holds another chapter. A novice confesses to doubt the existence of God, which is why Marie gives her no means of repentance at all. When it is Cathleen's turn and asks to repent for her sexual experience, Marie asks her to reveal the name of the other woman. Since she refuses, Cathleen has to crawl on hands and feet to every single novice and ask for forgiveness as she bursts into tears. Marie finally allows her to repent, then Emanuel leaves the monastery without saying goodbye to Cathleen.
Finally, Marie called the order together and announced the changes McCarthy had called for: The services were no longer held in Latin , but in English , the nuns had to show tolerance for other religions and from now on they had a free choice of clothing, as they were now on an equal footing with ordinary believers and no longer have to wear a habit . Of the initial twenty women, only five are left, including Cathleen. In their profession, the would-be nuns are asked by a priest what they are striving for. One replies that she will take her oath and marry Jesus Christ . When Cathleen is asked the same question at the end, she replies that she strives for more.
production
Novitiate was the feature film debut of filmmaker Maggie Betts . Before that, she was in 2010 with the documentary The Carrier about a pregnant woman from Zambia who was infected with HIV and the short film Engram from 2014 about two old people who knew each other in their childhood and are now in a subway station Manhattan meet again without recognizing each other, stepping into appearance.
On December 4, 2015, Margaret Qualley , Melissa Leo, and Dianna Agron were to be cast for the leading roles , as was the fact that filming would take place in Nashville in January of the following year. At the beginning of 2016, the engagements of the camerawoman Kat Westergaard were announced, the following year those of Christopher Stark. He made his debut as a film composer for the production, as he actually works as an assistant lecturer in the music course at Washington University in St. Louis . According to his own statement, he had about a week of working time for the film music.
reception
Sister Rose Pacatte said in the Global Sisters Report that the film was "bold and provocative." Although the production is well worth seeing and in many places authentic, there are still some inconsistencies, including the fact that an unbaptized person is accepted into the probationary period without an examination. In addition, since Cathleen's inner life is being replaced by rules and customs, the impression arises that a “real religious formation” was not formed until the Second Vatican Council. In the film everything “mysterious, strange or sensational seeming about church life” is depicted, which is why there is a “fine line between the believable and the unbelievable” in the plot. The figure of Mother Superior is frightening and fulfills the stereotype of abbesses, since one does not know their personal relationship with God and Jesus and their concern for the church is minimal. Nevertheless, her humanity is so "firmly bound under the habitat" that she fails to feel joy and to exceed her strict desire for discipline. She and Nora are the most captivating characters for Pacatte. The fear for her daughter is subtle and is therefore "deeply felt". Betts dedicates herself to her task of telling the story of a young nun with great curiosity and care. She succeeds in contrasting the main character's devotion to her beliefs and her personal struggle with issues such as growing up or sexuality, but may not go deep enough. The plot is "strangely one-sided".
Alissa Wilkinson the website Vox rated Novitiate with three out of five points. The production draws on the "old idea of ecstatic religious life", but is not pious, but human with a complicated and not entirely praiseworthy view of life in the monastery. The mission of Novitiate is to blur the lines between spiritual and physical ecstasy in the sense of "Catholic mystics". However, a modern understanding of sexuality, spirituality, individuality and vocation will also be inserted, which in part feels like a “solid reflection of the historical reforms of the Vatican”. The modern filter makes the production look clumsy at times, but it is still a promising feature film debut for the director. In addition, a look at Catholicism and the psychological effects of the reforms on the nuns is interesting. The journey of the novices and nuns who leave the monastery enables a deeper understanding of women who join and stay in abbeys or who leave again. Novitiate well grasped the "misguided view" that physical and psychological self-punishment as a sign of devotion can achieve the love of God. Novitiate is unstable in some places, but also really moving, which is reinforced by the performances of Margaret Qualley , Julianne Nicholson and some of the supporting actresses. The decision to choose a somewhat open ending is exactly the right one, given the "eternal uncertainty" that comes with a pious life.
Peter Travers of Rolling Stone particularly praised Melissa Leo . She plays the character with "flying colors" and deserves to be mentioned for upcoming Oscar nominations quite rightly . She would find the "tyrant in the woman of God" without neglecting her "painful vulnerability" as she tries to "assert herself while the ground wobbles under her feet". According to Travers, the film sometimes goes too far, for example in its portrayal of disobedience and inappropriate sexual attraction between the novices. However, Maggie Betts never falls into the trap of condemning or approving the actions of her characters. Instead, she contrasts with a keen eye the differences of various parties in the Catholic Church with the personal consequences of taking sides. It gives the audience an insight into the everyday life of the abbey, from the hours of asceticism to the chapters of the order. Although Leo is the film's "acting attraction", her performance is not the only good thing in the production. Morgan Saylor , Ashley Bell and Liana Liberato had some poignant moments as novices, Julianne Nicholson acted "energetic", while the leading actress Margaret Qualley was a "young star". During Kathleen's journey in the monastery, the audience's attention was focused on her, who first fasted and scourged herself, then made her own decisions through her “growing spiritual power”. Novitiate , which was filmed with “courage and grace”, is both a “strong provocation” and “something special”.
David Edelstein wrote in the Vulture that the film was close to nunsploitation in the "wickedest" scenes , but remained "giggle-free" most of the time. This is also due to the “oppressive masonry”, the “threatening frescoes” and “dark, medieval depths” of the church, which emphasize the “maturity of the nuns' incarnate ”. In addition, it would also take “a lot of courage” to giggle at the abbess embodied by Melissa Leo. Leo literally "disappeared" into her figure, her facial expressions were "almost immobile", which was not necessary for her figure, because she had "too much power and too many centuries of Catholic rights" on her side. This power protects them "bitterly with a pinch of sadism ". Edelstein claimed that the film received many contradictions and that his stance on the Second Vatican Council was unclear. He was probably more in favor of the reforms, albeit with the reservation that the “most vital form of connection between the nuns and Jesus in the name of modernization would be thrown overboard”. Edelstein commented negatively on some of the dialogues that were too explicit, and the performances of the supporting actors varied too widely from one another. In return, Maggie Betts managed to capture a turning point in the life of the Catholic Church. Her adaptation contradicts the origins of the real events, but her indecision creates excellent drama.
Awards and nominations (selection)
Camerimage 2017
- Nomination in the category Best Directing Debut for Maggie Betts
Detroit Film Critics Society Awards 2017
- Nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category for Melissa Leo
Gotham Award 2017
- Nomination for the Audience Award for Maggie Betts, Carole Peterman, Celine Rattray and Trudie Styler
- Nomination in the Best Young Director category for Maggie Betts
- Nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category for Melissa Leo
- Special prize of the jury in the category Best Young Director - Drama, for Maggie Betts
- Nomination for the Grand Jury Prize - Drama
AARP Movies for Grownups Awards 2018
- Nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category for Melissa Leo
Black Reel Award 2018
- Award for Best Screenwriting Debut for Maggie Betts
- Nomination for Best Director for Maggie Betts
- Nomination for Best Screenplay for Maggie Betts
- Nomination in the Best Young Filmmaker category for Maggie Betts
Festival Internacional de Cine en Guadalajara 2018
- Nomination in the category Best Feature Film for Maggie Betts
synchronization
The dubbing of the film was done at Antares Film based on a dialogue book and directed by Beate Gerlach.
| role | actor | Voice actor |
|---|---|---|
| Sister Cathleen Harris | Margaret Qualley | Marie Bierstedt |
| Cathleen (7 years) | Eliza Mason | Xara Eich |
| Mother Superior Marie Saint-Clair | Melissa Leo | Katharina Lopinski |
| Nora Harris | Julianne Nicholson | Silvia Missbach |
| Sister Mary Grace | Dianna Agron | Marieke Oeffinger |
| Sister Emanuel | Rebecca Dayan | Nadine Zaddam |
| Sister Evelyn | Morgan Saylor | Nicole Hannak |
| Sister sissy | Maddie Hasson | Maximiliane Häcke |
| Sister emily | Liana Liberato | Luisa Wietzorek |
| Sister Candace | Eline Powell | Alice Bauer |
| Sister charlotte | Chelsea Lopez | Laurine Betz |
| Archbishop McCarthy | Denis O'Hare | Till Hagen |
| Chuck Harris | Chris Zylka | Christoph Banks |
| Sister Margaret | Ashley Bell | Antje Thiele |
| Father Luca | Marco St. John | Rainer Gerlach |
| Sister Louisa | Marshall Chapman | Ilona Schulz |
Web links
- Novitiate in the Internet Movie Database (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Release certificate for novitiate . Voluntary self-regulation of the film industry (PDF; test number: 175551 / V).
- ^ Novitiate. In: Sundance Institute. Retrieved March 16, 2020 .
- ^ Brian Brooks: 'Novitiate', 'All I See Is You' & Palme d'Or Winner 'The Square' Close Out Packed October - Specialty BO Preview. In: Deadline.com . October 27, 2017, accessed on March 16, 2020 .
- ↑ Leslie Felperin: 'Novitiate': Film Review | Sundance 2017. In: The Hollywood Reporter . January 21, 2017, accessed on March 16, 2020 .
- ↑ Meet the 2011 Tribeca Filmmakers | "The Carrier" Director Maggie Betts. In: IndieWire. April 14, 2011, accessed March 16, 2020 .
- ↑ Ally Betker: Maggie Betts's New Film Engram Is an Experiment in Orgasmic Imagery. In: Vogue . March 26, 2014, accessed March 16, 2020 .
- ↑ Ramin Setoodeh: Melissa Leo, Dianna Agron to Star in Nun Drama 'Novitiate' (EXCLUSIVE). In: Variety . December 4, 2015, accessed March 16, 2020 .
- ↑ Jim Ridley: Cool Cast and Crew, Mostly Women, Spark Interest in Indie Novitiate Shooting Here. In: Nashville Scene. January 29, 2016, accessed March 16, 2020 .
- ↑ Calvin Wilson: 2017 Rising Stars: Composer Christopher Stark writes his first score for upcoming 'Novitiate'. In: St. Louis Post-Dispatch. July 27, 2017, accessed March 16, 2020 .
- ↑ Rose Pacatte: Creator of 'Novitiate' film wants audiences to focus on coming-of-age story. In: Global Sisters Report . October 27, 2017, accessed on March 14, 2020 .
- ↑ Alissa Wilkinson: In Novitiate, a young woman is torn between her love of God and her own desire. In: Vox . October 26, 2017, accessed on March 14, 2020 .
- ↑ Peter Travers: 'Novitiate' Review: And Then There Were Nuns in Stirring, Soulful Convent Drama. In: Rolling Stone . October 26, 2017, accessed on March 14, 2020 .
- ^ David Edelstein: In Novitiate, Catholicism and Eroticism Go Hand in Hand. In: Vulture . October 27, 2017, accessed on March 14, 2020 .
- ↑ DIRECTORS 'DEBUTS COMPETITION 2017 LINE-UP! In: Camerimage. October 13, 2017, accessed March 16, 2020 .
- ↑ The 2017 Detroit Film Critics Society Awards. In: Detroit Film Critics Society. December 7, 2017, accessed March 16, 2020 .
- ↑ Kate Hereditary Land: Gotham Awards 2017: Complete Winners List. In: IndieWire. November 27, 2017, accessed March 16, 2020 .
- ↑ Hilary Lewis: Gotham Awards: 'Call Me by Your Name' Wins Top Prize, 'Get Out' Nabs Most Honors. In: The Hollywood Reporter. November 27, 2017, accessed March 16, 2020 .
- ↑ Steve Pond, 'Dunkirk,' 'The Shape of Water' Lead Satellite Award Nominations. In: TheWrap. November 29, 2017, accessed March 16, 2020 .
- ↑ Peter Debruge: Sundance Winners: 'I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore,' 'Dina' Top Festival Awards. In: Variety. January 28, 2017, accessed March 16, 2020 .
- ↑ 2017 Sundance Film Festival: Competition And Next Lineup Announced. In: Sundance Institute. November 29, 2016, accessed March 16, 2020 .
- ↑ Marc Malkin: 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' Named Best Movie for Grownups at AARP Gala. In: The Hollywood Reporter. February 6, 2018, accessed March 16, 2020 .
- ↑ Get Out Dominates the Black Reel Awards. In: Black Reel Awards. December 13, 2017, accessed March 16, 2020 .
- ↑ German synchronous index | Movies | Novitiate. In: German synchronous card index . Retrieved March 14, 2020 .