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 & 12 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 | rape of a nun | soviet occupation of poland | soviet army | 

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Taglines:

Deeply moving and emotionally layered.

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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

Director Anne Fontaine went on two retreats in Benedictine communities in preparation for the film, first as an observer and second as a novice.

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Quotes

Maria: However much I pray, I cannot find any consolation. Every day, I relive what happened. Every day. I still smell the stench of them. They came back three times. Each time, they... They should have killed us. It's a miracle they didn't.

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Soundtracks

Regem Venturum Dominum
(Traditional, Author unknown)
Performed by the chorus, with Elsa Papatanasios, Emmanuelle Huteau, Marie George Monet, Nathalie Liess
(p)© 2016 Mandarin Cinéma / ADF-Bayard Musique

User Reviews

About faith and morals in the post WW2 Poland

That's why I go to film festivals, (mostly the Jerusalem Film Festival). For the opportunity of seeing such rare masterpieces. A perfect blend of acting - especially the three leads but there's not a single false note from any of the characters we get to see on screen; Cinematography; and story telling.

Lou de Laage, Agata Buzek and Agata Kulesza, are simply superb in their roles, but they are only the cherries on the top of one of the best ensemble works I've ever seen. The cinematography is breathtaking. And the story, it's more than a simple story about the horrors of war, and how it preys on the innocents. It's a story about the morals of faith. About believing in god's grace comes what may, as opposed to believing in the holiness of life. If you get a chance to see it, don't miss it - you won't regret it.

Details

Official Sites:

Mandarin Films [France] Mars Films [France]

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:

EUR6,400,000 (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, France 2 Cinéma

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1