Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Melissa Leo | ... | Reverend Mother | |
Lisa Stewart | ... | Sister Genevieve (as Lisa Stewart Seals) | |
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Alyssa Brindley | ... | Sister Kate |
Chelsea Lopez | ... | Sister Charlotte | |
Liana Liberato | ... | Sister Emily | |
Eline Powell | ... | Sister Candace | |
Margaret Qualley | ... | Sister Cathleen | |
Morgan Saylor | ... | Sister Evelyn | |
Rebecca Dayan | ... | Sister Emanuel | |
Hannah Renèe Jackson | ... | Sister Anne | |
Marco St. John | ... | Father Luca | |
Julianne Nicholson | ... | Nora Harris | |
Eliza Stella Mason | ... | Cathleen Age 7 (as Eliza Mason) | |
Bill Shick | ... | Local Priest | |
Danny Vinson | ... | Rob - Church Usher |
1964. Cathleen Harris, in her late teens, has resided at the Convent of the Beloved Rose in her home state in the American south for close to two years, first as a postulant for six months, before taking her first vows to become a novice. Unlike the other postulants and novices, Sister Cathleen was raised in a household without religion, let alone Catholicism. As such, her decision to become a nun, which went against her divorced mother's wishes, may be more secure in her mind than her colleagues for which this life course may be more bred within them. The convent is led by the Mother Abbess, Reverend Mother Marie Saint Clare, whose entire life is this convent off of where she not stepped foot in forty years. Reverend Mother believes she is the voice of God within the walls of the convent, and thus does not tolerate any of the sisters questioning her authority. She also believes that the Catholicism which she has known all her life is perfect. When she receives an edict regarding the ... Written by Huggo
Novitiate is a very solid debut film for Margaret Betts. It covers many themes from religion, faith, doubt, love, and internal turmoil of young girls who decide to devote their lives to God. The writing is good and the story moves fluently throughout the entire film with the exeption of maybe the last few minutes where things slow down a bit. Another positive thing about the writing is that it does not try to attack the church or ever turns into an anti-religion type of film. Everything is explored realistically. Especially the feelings of young girls who sometimes question their choices and ask themselves if it is really worth it. It is essentially a story about love, giving love, sometimes losing it and receiving it back. A vast topic but handled really well in my opinion. Another thing worth mentioning are the performances. All the actresses give great performances with Melissa Leo and Julianne Nicholson being the standouts. Recommended for that, good writing and solid direction.