The Nun () is a 2013 French drama film directed by Guillaume Nicloux. It is based on the 18th-century novel La Religieuse by French writer Denis Diderot. The film premiered in competition at the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival. It received two nominations at the 4th Magritte Awards, winning Best Actress for Pauline Étienne, and a nomination at the 39th César Awards. Production companies included Les Films du Worso, Belle Epoque Films and Versus Production.
Plot
Taking place in the 1760s France, a young girl named Suzanne Simonin is forced by her parents to become a nun. She learns that as an illegitimate child, she is expected to atone for her mother's sin. Her abbess treats her kindly, but when the abbess dies and another takes her place, Suzanne considers breaking her vows. Due to the maltreatment and physical abuse she undergoes, she is thrown into a world of punishment in which she suffers dehumanization. Suzanne is filled with despair and mental torment. It is not until a friend gives Suzanne some hope that she may not have to remain a nun forever and that Suzanne's punishment lifts.
Cast
Pauline Étienne as Suzanne Simonin
Isabelle Huppert as Abbess Saint Eutrope
Louise Bourgoin as Abbess Christine
Martina Gedeck as Suzanne's mother
Françoise Lebrun as Madame de Moni
Agathe Bonitzer as Sister Thérèse
Alice de Lencquesaing as Sister Ursule
Gilles Cohen as Suzanne's father
Marc Barbé as Father Castella
François Négret as Maître Manouri
Nicolas Jouhet as clergyman Sainte Marie
Pascal Bongard as Archdeacon
Fabrizio Rongione as Father Morante
Reception
The Hollywood Reporter Jordan Mintzer highlighted that director Nicloux and his co-writer Beaujour breathed new life into the classic story by making the protagonist "much more of a fighting spirit" and by adding a "revised ending". He said this film was "held together by a terrific lead performance". Variety's Boyd van Hoeij certified the film was "slickly assembled" and frequently provided a "painting-like" cinematography. Cine Vue'''s Patrick Gamble judged The Nun'' suffered from an "inability to deviate from absurdity".