Novitiate (film)

Novitiate

Teaser poster
Directed by Margaret Betts
Produced by
Written by Margaret Betts
Starring
Cinematography Kat Westergaard
Edited by Susan E. Morse
Production
company
Distributed by Sony Pictures Classics
Release date
  • January 20, 2017 (2017-01-20) (Sundance)
  • October 27, 2017 (2017-10-27) (United States)
Running time
 123 minutes[1]
Country United States
Language English

Novitiate is a 2017 American drama film written and directed by Margaret Betts. The film stars Margaret Qualley, Melissa Leo, Morgan Saylor, Dianna Agron, Julianne Nicholson, Liana Liberato, Denis O'Hare, and Maddie Hasson. The film follows a young woman (Qualley) who starts to question her faith as she trains to become a nun.

It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2017.[2] It is scheduled to be released on October 27, 2017 by Sony Pictures Classics.

Plot

In 1964, seven-year-old Cathleen Harris is introduced to Catholicism by her agnostic mother (Julianne Nicholson) and is drawn in the faith. At 12, a shy and reserved Cathleen is offered a scholarship and enrolls in a newly-opened Catholic school, to where she claims to have felt the presence of God. At 17, to her mother's dismay, Cathleen (Margaret Qualley) pursues a vocation as a nun, claiming to have earned a religious calling.[3]

Cathleen enters a Catholic convent as a postulant under the tutelage of the Reverend Mother (Melissa Leo).[3] In the convent she meets fellow nuns Sister Evelyn (Morgan Saylor), Sister Emily (Liana Liberato), and Sister Margaret (Ashley Bell), all of whom suffer from sexual urges during consecration.[4] Meanwhile, the Reverend Mother becomes alarmed with the planned reforms of the Second Vatican Council, terrified that she would lose authority in the convent. Unable to endure the cruelty of the Mother Reverend, most of the nuns leave the convent in revolt; this draws Cathleen to question her faith.[1]

Cast

Production

Novitiate is writer-director Margaret Betts's feature film directorial debut; her last projects were the 2010 documentary film The Carrier, and the 2014 short film Engram.[3] In December 2015, it was announced that Melissa Leo, Dianna Agron, and Margaret Qualley had been cast in lead roles in the period drama film Novitiate, which would begin filming in January in Nashville, Tennessee.[5] Kat Westergaard was hired as the director of photography.[6]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2017.[7] Shortly after, Sony Pictures Classics acquired U.S distribution rights to the film.[8] It is scheduled to be released on October 27, 2017.

References

  1. 1 2 Lodge, Guy (January 20, 2017). "Sundance Film Review: ‘Novitiate’". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  2. ↑ Shoard, Catherine (December 1, 2016). "Sundance staples and topical hot potatoes line up for 2017 film festival". The Guardian. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 Felperin, Leslie (January 21, 2017). "Novitiate: Film Review: Sundance 2017". The Hollywood Reporter. Eldridge Industries. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  4. ↑ Stewart, Sara (January 27, 2017). "Novitiate examines the minutiae of 1960s convent life". New York Post. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  5. ↑ Setoodeh, Ramin (December 4, 2015). "Melissa Leo, Dianna Agron to Star in Nun Drama ‘Novitiate’". Variety. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
  6. ↑ Ridley, Jim (January 29, 2016). "Cool Cast and Crew, Mostly Women, Spark Interest in Indie Novitiate Shooting Here". Nashville Scene. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Novitate". Sundance Film Festival. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
  8. ↑ Fleming Jr, Mike (January 22, 2017). "Sony Pictures Classics At Altar With ‘Novitiate:’ Sundance". Deadline.com. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
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