The Innocents (2016)

1945. Mathilde is a French Red Cross doctor working on a mission to help the French survivors of the German camps. While she works in Poland, she is asked for help by a nun. In her convent, several nuns are pregnant.

Director:

Anne Fontaine

Writers:

Sabrina B. Karine (scenario), Alice Vial (scenario)

Stars:

Lou de Laâge, Agata Buzek, Agata Kulesza

3 wins & 13 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lou de Laâge	...	Mathilde Beaulieu
Agata Buzek	...	Maria
Agata Kulesza	...	Mère Abesse
Vincent Macaigne	...	Samuel
Joanna Kulig	...	Irena
Eliza Rycembel	...	Teresa
Katarzyna Dabrowska	...	Anna
Anna Próchniak	...	Zofia
Helena Sujecka	...	Ludwika
Mira Maluszinska	...	Bibiana
Dorota Kuduk	...	Wanda
Klara Bielawka	...	Joanna
Pascal Elso	...	Le colonel
Thomas Coumans	...	Gaspard
Leon Latan-Paszek	...	Wladek

Storyline

Poland, winter of 1945. Mathilde Beaulieu (Lou de Lâage) is a young intern working with a branch of the French Red Cross. They are on a mission to find, treat and repatriate French survivors of the German camps. One day, a Polish nun arrives in the hospital. In very poor French, she begs Mathilde to come to her convent. Mathilde life and beliefs change when she discovers the advanced state of pregnancy that affect several of the Sisters of the convent just outside the hospital where she performs.

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Plot Keywords:

soviet soldier | poland | soviet occupation of poland | rape of a nun | soviet army | 

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Taglines:

Based on the remarkable true story.

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Genres:

Drama | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for disturbing thematic material including sexual assault, and for some bloody images and brief suggestive content

Did You Know?

Trivia

Anne Fontaine originally met with Agata Kulesza in Poland because she was an admirer of her work, but told her that she didn't wish to cast her as the Mother Superior since she thought her too sexy for the role. The actress laughed and asked the director if she could put on a veil and read an extract for a Polish work. Once she did, Fontaine decided to give her the part.

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Quotes

Maria: Dear Mathilde, the dark clouds have been hunted. We have here the sun in the sky. And you are in our hearts. Other wars may come. Other dangers threaten us, it will soon be difficult to write to us. But whatever our fate is, I feel ready to face it. I know, even if it makes you laugh, God sent you. Let him accompany you through the trials and that joy never misses you. Yours, Maria.

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Soundtracks

Ballada o Felku Zdankiewiczu
(domaine public, auteurs inconnus - Valse)
Performed by Pawel Zaganczyk (accordion), Joachim Luczak (violin), Dominik Jastrzebski (clarinet)

User Reviews

Where Faith Ends

I do not believe you will ever come across more offbeat subject matter than that found in "The Innocents". A French Red Cross nurse is asked to help a convent of Polish nuns, most of whom have been raped by Russian troops, and many have become pregnant. She finds she is not welcome by the Mother Superior, who believes it is the will of God - Providence, she says, and that somehow God will resolve their dilemma. Since they are nuns no one may see or touch their bodies as they are handmaidens of The Lord.

The actors are marvelous and convey the prevailing feelings of incomprehension and guilt that permeates the convent. They feel they are to blame for the fate that has befallen them. Although they are pliable the Abbess is not, and here is the crux of the problem; the dichotomy of thought between young and old, modern (as of 1945) and traditional. "The Innocents" is an excellent character study and is ultimately a 'women's picture'. It is filmed in color but feels like a black-and-white picture. So starkly obvious is the solution that I struggled to accept the prevailing sentiments of the nuns, with which I found myself at odds. As such, I found it not as compelling as some other reviewers did.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Page Official site [Japan]

Country:

France Poland

Language:

French Polish Russian

Release Date:

10 February 2016 (France)

Also Known As:

The Innocents

Filming Locations:

Orneta, Warminsko-Mazurskie, Poland

Box Office

Budget:

EUR6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$30,896, 3 July 2016

Gross USA:

$1,065,665

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$7,400,324

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mandarin Films, Aeroplan Film, Mars Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1