The
Nun (2013/Film Movement DVD)
Picture:
B- Sound: B- Extras: C Film: C
Guillaume
Nicloux's The Nun (2013) is a fine film, though not
necessarily my cup of tea.
In
1760s France, Suzanne (Pauline Etienne) is a beautiful young girl
with a natural talent for music, enjoying a life of privilege when
she is inexplicably sent off to a convent. She resists their
structure at every turn until she discovers that she is an
illegitimate child. Left with no other option, she pronounces her
vows and suffers the consequences of the sins of her mother. Still
uncertain of her path and oppressed by aggressive and inappropriate
Mother Superiors, Suzanne continues to resist imposed religious
values and the dehumanizing effect of such a life.
Based
on the classic novel by Diderot, the film is beautifully shot,
dramatic, and emotional. The most impressive aspect of the film for
me were the costumes and acting. The film is solidly put together
and won many foreign language film awards at various festivals.
Isabelle Huppert also stars.
Presented
in standard definition with an anamorphic 1.85 X 1 widescreen
transfer and a lossy French Dolby Digital 5.1 track with subtitles,
the film could definitely benefit from a high definition transfer
that could easily help support the production value throughout.
Extras include a Trailer, Director's Statement and a Bio.
Bottom
line - while the film didn't do a lot for me, if you are into films
about spiritual and religious journeys and also love foreign language
films then this may be the one you won't want to miss!
-
James Harland Lockhart V
www.facebook.com/jhl5films
