Avril (2006)

Avril is a novice in a convent of "Baptistine" sisters, a monastic order which was officially dissolved by the end of the nineteenth century but that is kept alive by Mère Marie Joseph, the... See full summary »

Director:

Gérald Hustache-Mathieu

Writer:

Gérald Hustache-Mathieu

Stars:

Sophie Quinton, Miou-Miou, Nicolas Duvauchelle

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sophie Quinton	...	Avril
Miou-Miou	...	Soeur Bernadette, formerly Flora Romano
Nicolas Duvauchelle	...	Pierre
Clément Sibony	...	David
Richaud Valls	...	Jim
Geneviève Casile	...	Mère Marie-Joseph
Monique Mélinand	...	Soeur Céleste
Anna Mihalcea	...	Flora
Claude Duty	...	Père Jean Diard
Mathilde Mignot	...	Avril enfant
Frédéric Quiring	...	Le père adoptif de David
Marie Vinoy	...	La mère adoptive de David
Milo Hustache-Mathieu	...	David enfant
Gisèle Boiteux	...	Une Trappistine
Denise Billot	...	Une Trappistine

Storyline

Avril is a novice in a convent of "Baptistine" sisters, a monastic order which was officially dissolved by the end of the nineteenth century but that is kept alive by Mère Marie Joseph, the sadistic superior. The rule she imposes on the nuns is particularly strict but this is all Avril has ever known since she was born, for she was an abandoned child raised by the nuns with a view to making one of them. While Avril is on retreat, locked in for a fortnight in a chapel prior to taking her vows, Soeur Bernadette, a sympathetic sister, discloses a secret to her: she has a twin brother and she encourages her to go looking for him...

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Haut et Court [fr]

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

14 June 2006 (France)

Also Known As:

A zárdán túl

Filming Locations:

Calvados, France

Box Office

Budget:

€2,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dharamsala, CinéCinéma, Canal+

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Luna de abril"
(2001)
Written by Carlos Cano and Luis Alberto Spinetta
Performed by María Dolores Pradera

User Reviews

Mother superior jumped the gun.

Speaking of modernity ,the starting point of the movie takes us back to the old melodramas of the nineteenth century ;some French may remember "Les Deux Orphelines " by Adolphe D'Ennery (aka "Orphans of the storm" ).Of course the treatment is different since the two fraternal twins (they can't be identical can they?) meet in the first quarter .Such a story is hardly believable,as an user has already pointed out:how can a girl ,who was "carefully" taught,educated in a nunnery ,surrounded by holy women, adapt herself so easily to the "modern" world she discovers?I'm sure she was never told gays existed .Was she even told that she could marry instead of becoming a nun?That her brother can sleep with another man doesn't shock her at all : people are going to say it is the natural tolerance of the clueless girl;perhaps so.Clement Sibony (who was a good Daniel in "Les Thibault" miniseries ) gives a down-to-earth portrayal,which is quite fine,cause I feared that the scenes on the beach could lead the movie into Neo Nouvelle Vague territory Eric Rohmer style,but the quartet is nice and has something of the odd pairings of John Huston (as a "Heaven knows mister Allison " for twenty-somethings).

A question:WHEN does it takes place? The young man in love with Avril says he loves late fifties/early sixties music -Orbison,Presley,Holly- and he plays an Annette Funicello -who ,however,was rather unknown in France - song in his car.Later we see the boys teach Avril Christophe's big hit "Aline" (1965,but which was re-issued in the eighties with success );and twin brother uses a slot-in record player ,which is typically early eighties.Even for a French ,it's difficult to pinpoint the era.

Miou-Miou cast as a nun is something rather curious and is worth the price of admission.But Genevieve Casile 's part of the mother superior is too underwritten to be credible "She wanted you to be a saint" is not enough to explain her behavior.