NOVITIATE
US, 2017, 123 minutes, Colour.
Margaret Qualley, Melissa Leo, Julianne Nicholson, Dianna Agron, Rebecca Dayan, Leona Liberato, Denis O' Hare.
Directed by Maggie Betts.
In some ways it is a surprise to find this film made and released in the 2010s. It is in the tradition of films of the past about nuns and convents but it reflects the changes in the latter part of the 20th century, after the Second Vatican Council, and the decline in numbers joining religious orders.
In the past, many actresses were eager to have the opportunity to play a nun in a film. There were some serious roles. There were pastoral roles. There were some comedies. In the 1960s, changes were indicated by The Trouble with Angels and Where Angels Go… Trouble Follows. Dead Man Walking was an impressive picture of nuns and pastoral ministry.
But the main serious film about convent life was the 1959 The Nun’s Story, released just after Pope John XXIII announced preparations for the Council. It showed what pre-Council convent life was like, the strengths, the discipline, the numbers, and the challenges which led to Sister Luke (Audrey Hepburn perfect in the role) leaving the convent.
This film is set in the first half of the 1960s (the same period as for Doubt with Meryl Streep). The setting is Tennessee, a large convent, traditional in its look and in its way of life. The superior is played with her usual strength by Melissa Leo, with self-assurance covering some self-doubt as she rules the community with some severity. The local Archbishop, Denis O’ Hare, communicates the decisions of the Council, not acceptable to the superior, and his eventually threatening her if she does not implement the changes, with dismissal.
However, the central character is the young woman, played with intensity by Margaret Qualley, who was educated by the sisters, decides to join them, experiences the detail of the formation program of postulancy and the novitiate. There is an emphasis on the Chapter of Faults, a practice for confessing one’s faults and receiving a penance – some severe from the superior. But, she is young, has had a somewhat enclosed life, little sexual awakening – and this happens and leads to an encounter with one of the sisters. It becomes symbolic of her moving to adult life and the issue of her commitment.
Julianne Nicholson plays her mother, one without faith, but who wants her daughter to make her own personal choices. The film is the directing debut of writer, Maggie Betts.
1. Audience interest in the Catholic Church? Communities of nuns? Convent formation and life?
2. The experience of the Second Vatican Council? The 1960s? Changes in the Catholic Church? The impact of the Council? In the US, with the conservative church?
3. The title, the community, the novices in formation, the role of Superior, her expectations, style, spirituality, the spirituality of the order?
4. Tennessee, the convent, the building, exteriors, interiors, rooms, common rooms, the chapel? The musical score?
5. Cathleen’s story? Her mother, not having any faith, but taking Cathleen to a church for her own decisions? Her father, his drinking, leaving? Norah, her life, the one-night stands?
6. Cathleen at school, the encounter with the nuns, the offering of the scholarship, her good grades? Enjoying school? The nuns and the talk of vocation? At age 17, the influence, her decisions?
7. The Sisters of The beloved Rose? The 20 going into the postulancy, the way of life, the details, progress? Towards the novitiate? Mother Marie St- Claire? Her presence, her personality, the program for the formation, her discipline, cold manner, traditional beliefs and practices? The using of the Chapter of Faults, the confessions, stern penances, disciplined? The effect on the young women?
8. Sister Grace, in charge of the postulants, kind, disagreeing with the superior, openness? The girls enclosed, the giggling periods? Lack of maturity?
9. Cathleen, the effect of formation on her, separating herself, reading the Bible?
10. The Archbishop, his letters about the Vatican Council, the reaction of the superior? Her disagreeing, not putting the injunctions into practice, Grace and her urging the Superior to change?
11. Cathleen, the impact of her novitiate, the seclusion, her age, lack of sexual awareness, the changes, her fears, not eating, trying to be rid of impure thoughts?
12. Norah, her visit, her husband’s death, her worry about Cathleen, the clash with the superior? The superior saying that she was Cathleen’s mother because of her commitment to the church?
13. Cathleen, the collapse, in the infirmary, the sexual experience at night, the visit to the room of Sister Emanuel, the sexual encounter and its effect?
14. The Archbishop, the confrontation with the superior, his threat to dismiss her?
15. The effect on the superior, on her faith, of her sense of herself, of her place in the church?
16. The Chapter of Faults, Cathleen confessing, not naming the nun? The penance, on her hands and knees? Sister Emanuel leaving?
17. The council changes? Mass in English? Priests facing the congregation? Equality with the laity? The nuns and habits and what they would wear? The consequences?
18. The numbers leaving the novitiate, the small group for profession? Their commitment and language? Cathleen and her wanting something more?
