Thérèse (1986)

The life of little St. Therese of Lisieux, depicted in minimalist vignettes. Therese and her sisters are all nuns in a Carmelite convent. Her devotion to Jesus and her concept of "the ... See full summary »

Director:

Alain Cavalier

Writers:

Camille de Casabianca, Alain Cavalier

Stars:

Catherine Mouchet, Hélène Alexandridis, Aurore Prieto

9 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Catherine Mouchet	...	Thérèse
Hélène Alexandridis	...	Lucie
Aurore Prieto	...	Céline
Clémence Massart-Weit	...	Prioress (as Clémence Massart)
Sylvie Habault	...	Pauline
Nathalie Bernart	...	Aimes
Mona Heftre	...	Marie - une religiause (as Ghislaine Mona)
Beatrice De Vigan	...	Singer
Jean Pélégri	...	The father
Pierre Baillot
Pierre Maintigneux	...	Convent Doctor
Jean Pieuchot	...	The Bishop
Guy Faucon	...	Aimee's Fiancé
Armand Meppiel	...	The Pope
Joël Lefrançois	...	The Young Doctor

Storyline

The life of little St. Therese of Lisieux, depicted in minimalist vignettes. Therese and her sisters are all nuns in a Carmelite convent. Her devotion to Jesus and her concept of "the little way" to God are shown clearly, using plain modern language. A sense of angelic simplicity comes across without fancy lights, choirs, or showy miracles.

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Plot Keywords:

convent | nun | carmelite | spirituality | death | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

17 December 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Teresa

Company Credits

Production Co:

AFC, Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC), Films A2

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Finnish censorship visa register # 94181.

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Connections

Version of La rose effeuillée (1926)

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Soundtracks

Execepts from works by Jacques Offenbach and Gabriel Fauré

User Reviews

Therese

One of the reviewers of this film said that it was perhaps the most boring ever made. I might agree with him if not for the fact that each scene is set up so perfectly, exactingly austere yet very rich. The palette the director chooses for his canvass are soft browns, blacks, muted whites. Certain scenes delight with their unexpectedness- the three fish that are given to Therese by her invalid father, the gift of the wooden Christchild at Christmas, and the flagellation scene.

You might say "Therese" is a religious film, but then one could also make the argument that this film displays an asceticm both neurotic and self-absorbed. It is certainly not the standard by which we judge "spirituality" these days; however for centuries this is the way a good part of Christendom sought the divine.

This film is certainly anything but boring. It is unusual, enlightening and a small delight to the senses in much the manner of an Emily Dickinson poem.