The innocents opens in a benedictine convent in poland in 1945, shortly after the event known, not without bitter irony, as the liberation of poland by the soviet army. French director anne fontaine has joined forces with polish filmmakers to create what is, in my judgment, the best film of 2016 so far, one that should be of interest to all catholics and should be a sure contender for best foreign film at next years oscars. Every time when i watch such films with an unpleasant subject matter such as the innocents, i understand more and more the true definition of storytelling. Stephen holden the new york times starring, directed, filmed and written by women, balancing agnostic intelligence and respect, this is one of the most compelling films about war in years. When a panicked nun appears at the clinic one night begging mathilde to follow her back to the convent, what she finds there is shocking. From the early, eerie, unquestionably haunting images of a young nun traipsing through a barren, snowcovered polish countryside going who. Aside from the mother superior, who harbors a horrible secret, the movie shows the nuns in a thoroughly sympathetic and positive light. F rench film maker anne fontaines the innocents aka agnus dei, 2016 shines light on one of the agonizing chapters of world war ii. While she works in poland, she is asked for help by a nun.
I do not want to spoil anyones viewing experience with too many details about the actual plot. The innocents official trailer 1 2016 drama hd duration. Watch the innocents 2016 on netflix in the united kingdom. The innocents is a profound, poignant and thought provoking film that tackles a sensitive subject with beauty and grace. Les innocentes, also known as agnus dei, is a 2016 french film. The innocents 2016 there are few films that tell tales of christian faith truly tested and used to win over incredibly troubling situations, but the current movie the innocents manages to do. Anne fontaines forceful, albeit uncomplicated, film about the rape of polish catholic nuns. This is a very sensitive, nonsensational film of based on actual events and many nuns have been raped and gotten pregnant during other wars as well that manages to wrap itself around and enter deeply into the psychology of this very pointed and specific trauma. A powerful fable of rape and rebirth in a polish convent a french feminist hero finds a convent. The innocents 2016 an emotionally implosive wwii drama. Mathilde is a french red cross doctor working on a mission to help the french survivors of the german camps. Although it is inspired by real events, some parts of the narrative are fictitious. The innocents isnt always easy to watch, but its nuanced exploration of complex themes.
Jul 25, 2016 the pace of the film is largely the pace of convent life, and the overall mood of the innocents is set by cinematographer caroline champetier of gods and men, whose palette is so somber that the grey convent walls, the sisters benedictine habits, and the bleak winter exteriors almost make the film seem shot in black and white. The sisters have no chaplain so there is no mass or spiritual guidance except their praying the hours. As the nuns lift their voices in song, giving praise to god, a voice is heard making a rather different sound. Faith and fear in a story of innocents inspired by real events, the innocents visits a convent in 1945 where a doctor finds herself unexpectedly treating pregnant nuns. Jun 27, 2016 french director anne fontaine is known for her daring portraits of passionate women in films like coco before chanel and gemma bovary. When a nun seeks for her help, she is brought to a convent where several pregnant sisters are hiding, unable to reconcile their faith with their pregnancy. Performed by the chorus, with elsa papatanasios, emmanuelle huteau. That is just one of many reasons why the innocents 2016 stands out in the war film genre. At the end of the second world war, over 50 million people were displaced. The innocents is a fascinating and unusual ghost story filled with complex emotions and themes. One of the greatest myths about wars is that they end and then people are at peace. Opens july 15 in toronto varsity and vancouver fifth avenue. The innocents, a frenchpolish production, is the powerful, initially disturbing but ultimately hopeful true story of several polish roman catholic nuns raped by soviet soldiers in wwii and how a french red cross doctor risks her career to help several of the nuns through their resulting pregnancies.
World war ii is finally over and red cross nurse mathilde is treating the last of the french survivors of the german camps. The film begins mysteriously enough as a young nun flees the cloistered walls of her convent in the middle of winter, trekking to a nearby village to find a doctornot a polish or russian one. Fans of classic super natural tales would be most satisfied with this movie. The result is a soulful essay about atrocities committed against a group of nuns during the second world war, portrayed as a. Jun 01, 2016 published on jun 1, 2016 warsaw, december 1945. The innocents is a very emotional and draining film for much of its running time, yet it is a film that all people of christian and catholic faith should see. The screenplay is by gilbert adair, based on his own novel the. So the setting of her next film, the innocents, may come as a bit of a surprise. From the early, eerie, unquestionably haunting images of a young nun traipsing through a barren, snowcovered polish countryside going who knows where, to a moment of. The innocents is a very emotional and draining movie for much of its running time. Turns out, its coming from an extremely pregnant, young nun whos on the verge.
The innocents opens friday at the landmark bethesda row cinema. Jun 24, 2016 anne fontaines film the innocents is a thought provoking, often disturbing film. The gamble is worth it, though, making for a harrowing portrait of womanhood at war. The innocents where to watch streaming and online flicks. Inspired by the dreamers, the 2003 romantic drama film directed by bernardo bertolucci. The innocents 2016 stream and watch online moviefone. Agnus dei the innocents les innocentes 2016 trailer english. The innocents tells a story of trauma, grace national. It is december 1945, the deadliest of all wars is over, but its aftermath is felt everywhere. The innocents sweeps you away and takes the audience on a journey that is rarely explored in cinema. The film opens august 19 in montreal and in other cities throughout the summer.
The innocents is a 1961 british psychological horror film directed and produced by jack clayton, and starring deborah kerr, michael redgrave, and megs jenkins. Trailer 1 the innocents synopsis warsaw, december 1945. Anne fontaines spiritually and emotionally complex the innocents represents a welcome change. Mathilde, a young french red cross doctor, is on a mission to help the war survivors. The result is a soulful essay about atrocities committed against a group of nuns during the second world war, portrayed as. The innocents weaves several narrative strands into a complex of themes that sometimes pull against one another. The innocents isnt always easy to watch, but its nuanced exploration of complex themes and its refreshing perspective are well worth the. As the nuns lift their voices in song, giving praise to god, a voice is heard making a rather different.
Anne fontaines film the innocents is a thought provoking, often disturbing film. Karine, pascal bonitzer, anne fontaine and alice vial, after an original idea by philippe maynial. Jun 30, 2016 the innocents is a challenging film to watch as a woman and as a woman religious. As such, it will inevitably draw comparison to ida, the searing drama. The innocents begins at the end of world war ii in poland, december 1945. The innocents shines a light on an episode shrouded in. The innocents isnt always easy to watch, but its nuanced exploration of complex themes and its refreshing perspective are well worth the effort. Matilda, a french red cross medical worker, is in poland attending to last french survivors in german camps.
Vincent macaigne was born on october 19, 1978 in paris, france. Much of anne fontaines blistering film the innocents is set within the walls of a polish convent in december 1945, just after the end of. The innocents is a challenging film to watch as a woman and as a woman religious. It says at the beginning of the movie that it is based on actual events and that makes the story even more moving. Aug 01, 2016 this feature is not available right now. This film has extreme depth in character and story textures. However, the performances, writing, direction, and cinematography are superb.
World war ii has just ended and red cross nurse mathilde is wrapping up her work when a panicked nun arrives to beckon her back to the convent, where she finds a shocking scene. Film locations for the innocents 1961, in east sussex. They are on a mission to find, treat and repatriate french survivors of the german camps. Set in the aftermath of world war ii, the quietly powerful drama the innocents shows women of faith working side by side with nonbelievers to bring light to a dark, horrifying world. I can think of many films directed by men, and focusing on men, that rigorously wrestle with questions. Jamie chung, star of new netflix film dangerous lies, wants to get bloody playing a. National catholic register the innocents opens in a benedictine convent in poland in 1945, shortly after the event known, not without bitter irony, as the liberation of poland by the soviet army. J ack claytons the innocents 1961, now on national rerelease, is an elegant, sinister and scalpprickling ghost story as scary in its way as rosemarys baby or the exorcist.
The film takes place in december 1945, but the issues it raises about belief and devotion to duty will resonate with people of faith today. At the end of world war ii, a french doctor with the red cross treats nuns at a polish convent who were raped and impregnated by russian soldiers. Jul 07, 2016 that it also features firstrate performances and direction only adds to its value as the best film of 2016. Tweetemail tweetemail courtesy of music box films the french drama the innocents takes place shortly after world war ii in poland, a story involving the wars devastation and aftermath, the occupying russian forces who drove out the germans, and some cloistered catholic nuns. I watched director anne fontaines gemma bovery postwwii drama the innocents les innocents is a state of perpetual awe. Poland after the end of world war ii is occupied by the russians. The innocents tackling rape, war and religion is an ambitious film. The performances are good, though in typical 1950sstyle melodramatic form. Serene, austere benedictine nuns sing sweetly in the quiet stillness of morninguntil a piercing scream echoes through the stone hallways, sending a chill. The film begins mysteriously enough as a young nun flees the cloistered walls of.
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