THERESE

France, 1986, 91 minutes, Colour.
Catherine Mouchet, Aurore Prieto.
Directed by Alain Cavalier.

Therese is a film about religious life, particularly the Carmelites in Lisieux at the end of the 19th century. The focus is on Therese Martin, called popularly in Catholic circles, The Little Flower. She made a great impact immediately after her death, especially with the publication of her spiritual autobiography, `The Story of a Soul'. Dying in 1897, she was canonised by Pius XI in 1925.

This film is in the French tradition of films about nuns, most especially in the clear and somewhat abstract style of Robert Bresson (Dialogue of the Carmelites, The Passion of St Joan of
Arc). It is the opposite of the more flamboyant style used by such directors as Ken Russell. Audiences, more familiar with Hollywood nuns, will find the film rather bleak and ascetical. (Though many will have memories of Audrey Hepburn in The Nun's Story.)

The film is highly stylised, quite claustrophobic for its impact of cloister on the sisters. Scenes move from one sound stage to the other without many exteriors. This stylising of the film highlights the character of Therese, the style of life she lived in the convent, her seeking for holiness.

The film was co-written and directed by Alain Cavalier who follows the Bresson tradition. The film received some acclaim - winning prizes at a Cannes film festival. Observers outside the Catholic church found the film quite powerful. Many from within the church, having experienced transition from this kind of 19th century spirituality to a more contemporary and outgoing spirituality, found the film very difficult to identify with.

1.Impact of the film? Acclaim - awards, critical reviews in favour? The reaction of Catholics who had experienced the transition from this spirituality to a more contemporary one?

2.French film-making, a French perspective on a French saint? Memories of the 19th century, the Catholic church, anti-clerical attitudes of the period? A perception of holiness and asceticism?

3.The stylised manner of the film: sound stages and sets, darkness and light, claustrophobic aspects of the convent, the cloister and enclosure? The musical score, traditions of religious music?

4.Audience response to 19th century French piety, the visuals of statuary and liturgy, the chapel, religious rituals, the religious habit, religious music? Regimented and regulated behaviour?

5.Audience knowledge of Therese of Lisieux, the effect of the movie on those who were not aware of her, people with critical attitudes towards the Catholic church, people sympathetic to the church?

6.This picture of life in a convent in the perspective of the reassessment of religious life and asceticism after the Second Vatican Council?

7.The film as a collage of sequences in Therese's short life, the building up of a portrait?

8.The background of the Martin family, her parents and their devout life, the older sisters joining Carmel, the place of the convent in the consciousness of the family, religious ideals and holiness? Therese wanting to join the convent, her sense of vocation, the parish priest and his refusal? The pilgrimage to Rome, her encounter with Leo XIII, his sympathetic listening, his granting permission?

9.The picture of life in the convent, its strictness, enclosure? The small group of sisters in an enclosed world? Striving for ideals, Carmelite tradition, local interpretation of rule and spirituality, reading Scripture, the Song of Songs and its evocative interpretations? Discipline, charity?

10.The portrait of different nuns in the convent: the superior, her attitudes towards the Martin sisters, towards Therese, her regulating convent life, her lack of sympathy, indecision and decision? The elderly sister who was a widow, keeping her husband's photo, her friendship with Therese? The strength of her vocation - or not? Sister Lucie, her background, affection, the bond with Therese, the tradition of breaking up Particular Friendships at the time? Her anguish, her decision, her absence?

11.The Martin sisters, the bonds between them, friendship and love, lifestyle and piety, authority in the convent? Their father's death and its impact? Celine coming to join the convent as well?

12.The tradition of asceticism and its severity, physical asceticism? The spirituality of illness? Therese and consumption? The interviews with the doctor - and his attitude towards the sisters' behaviour? Therese and her keeping a diary, `The Story of a Soul' - and it being published in an edited edition first? A pious image of The Little Flower? Giving her life for missionaries? The later more robust version published?

13.The film's attention to the detail of convent life: prayer, recreation (and the dressing up as Joan of Arc for the photo - and Therese fainting), the daily work routines? The demands of sisterly love and charity?

14.The background of the world of Lisieux, France at the end of the 19th century, emerging nationalism, anti-clerical attitudes? Middle class society?

15.The portrait of a strong woman, her character and courage, her religious dedication?