La Religieuse

Trailer

Featured Quote

“AN INSPIRED CHOICE OF REVIVAL...writhes with almost uncontainable surges of anger, lust, and distress... viewers versed in the rigors of The Handmaid's Tale should find plenty to obsess and outrage them.”
— Anthony Lane, The New Yorker

About

France, 1966
Director: Jacques Rivette
Producer: Georges de Beauregard
Cast: Anna Karina, Liselotte Pulver, Micheline Presle, Francisco Rabal
Screenwriter: Jean Gruault, Jacques Rivette
Based on the novel by Denis Diderot
Cinematography: Alain Levent
Costumes: Gitt Magrini
Genre: Drama
Color
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Language: French with English subtitles
Running Time: 140 minutes

Synopsis:
In eighteenth century France, novice Suzanne (Anna Karina) is compelled to take her vows and become a nun. As she does what she can to resist, Suzanne is shuttled between convents with widely different Mothers Superior, ranging from maternal to sadistic to amorous. Based on the novel by Denis Diderot, Rivette’s film was banned at its initial release and became the scandal du jour.

Restoration:
Restored in 4K from the original film negative by L’Immagine Ritrovata, under the supervision of Studiocanal and Mrs. Véronique Manniez-Rivette, with the support of the Centre National du Cinéma, La Cinématheque Française, and the Franco-American Cultural Fund-DGA-MPA-SACEM-WGAW.

Reviews and Quotes 2

"BRILLIANT FILMMAKING AND IMPASSIONED RESTRAINT...The movie is as sumptuous in its color photography as it is austere in its mise-en-scène."
— J. Hoberman, The New York Times

“A GREAT FILM.
ONE OF THE CORNERSTONES OF THE
FRENCH NEW WAVE.”
— Jonathan Rosenbaum

"Certainly there is no better time than the present to appreciate it anew...Its portrait of totalitarian authority and the reckless abuse of clerical power is as scaldingly resonant now as it ever was."
— Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times