The Nun (2013 film)

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The Nun
French theatrical release poster
FrenchLa Religieuse
Directed byGuillaume Nicloux
Written by
  • Guillaume Nicloux
  • Jérôme Beaujour
Based onLa Religieuse
by Denis Diderot
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyYves Cape
Edited byGuy Lecorne
Music byMax Richter
Production
companies
  • Les Films du Worso
  • Belle Epoque Films
  • Versus Production
Distributed byLe Pacte (France)
Release dates
  • 10 February 2013 (2013-02-10) (Berlinale)
  • 20 March 2013 (2013-03-20) (France)
Running time
100 minutes
Countries
  • France
  • Belgium
  • Germany
LanguageFrench
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[edit]

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[edit]

Pauline Étienne at the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival

Reception[edit]

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[edit]

Award Category Nominee Result
Berlin International Film Festival Golden Berlin Bear Guillaume Nicloux Nominated
César Awards Most Promising Actress Pauline Etienne Nominated
Lumières Award Best Female Revelation Pauline Etienne Nominated
Magritte Awards Best Foreign Film in Coproduction Nominated
Best Actress Pauline Etienne Won

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "La Religieuse". JP's Box-Office.
  2. ^ "Berlinale Competition 2013: Another Nine Films Confirmed". berlinale. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  3. ^ Lorfèvre, Alain (1 February 2014). "Trois Magritte pour "Ernest et Célestine"". La Libre Belgique (in French). Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  4. ^ "Berenice Bejo, Lea Seydoux, Roman Polanski Among France's Cesar Awards Nominees". Hollywood Reporter. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  5. ^ Mintzer, Jordan (10 February 2013). "The Nun (La Religieuse): Berlin Review". The Hollywood Reporter.
  6. ^ "The Nun (La Religieuse): Berlin Review". The Hollywood Reporter. 10 February 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  7. ^ "'The Nun' review". Variety. 10 February 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  8. ^ "Berlin Film Festival 2013: 'The Nun' review". Cine Vue. Retrieved 12 February 2013.

External links[edit]

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