Novitiate

Director: Maggie Betts

2017, US, 123 min

Cast: Margaret Qualley, Melissa Leo, Julianne Nicholson, Dianna Agron, Rebecca Dayan, Denis O’Hare.

 

(2017, US) Written and directed by Maggie Betts. Cast: Margaret Qualley, Melissa Leo, Julianne Nicholson, Dianna Agron, Rebecca Dayan, Denis O’Hare.

It’s youth against age, progress vs. tradition and a quiet but fierce rebellion challenging power. Writer/director Maggie Betts situates this battle in a Tennessee convent in 1965 – but it feels as fresh as this morning’s (online) news. An idealistic young novitiate named Cathleen (played by Margaret Qualley, actor Andie MacDowell’s daughter) loves her Catholic faith, even more so as the liberalization policies of The Second Vatican Council propels it into the 20th century. However, the forces of conservatism have no intention of going quietly, and they have a powerful defender in Mother Superior (Melissa Leo, who won the Golden Globe, SAG, and Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Fighter.) 123 min.

“Ritualistic and enthralling, with a complex feminism woven into its cloth. It’s something of a blessing.” –Julia Cooper, Toronto Globe and Mail.