The Nun (2013) Movie Review
The Nun unfolds in 1765 France, where a marquis battles illness while clinging to life. The story takes us back two years through a letter, introducing Suzanne Simonin as the main character. Suzanne, despite her reluctance for religious life, is sent to a convent amidst her sisters' marriages. Her time in the cloistered atmosphere becomes challenging. A kind abbess cares for her but tragically dies during Suzanne's stay. Suzanne struggles with the rituals, and the new Mother Superior turns tyrannical. Accused of a fabricated crime, Suzanne faces harsh punishments, including shunning, deprivation of food, and even forced nudity by fellow nuns. As if that weren't enough, she discovers she's an illegitimate daughter while trying to live as a nun. The supposedly godly place becomes a quick descent into hell for her.
The Nun (2013) Movie
Pauline Etienne shines as Suzanne, portraying the reluctant nun with existential issues. Her facial expressions in ritual scenes convey discomfort without words. The refusal to take vows is particularly well-acted. Isabelle Huppert, as Eutrope, delivers a standout performance with intriguing character development. However, the discomfort intensifies as her motivations for treating Suzanne well are revealed. Earlier scenes with Suzanne performing music for the convent subtly foreshadow Eutrope's hidden emotions behind her cheerful facade.
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The way this movie explores people's opinions on religion, especially the Catholic Church, is pretty interesting. Suzanne seems kind of unsure about religion, maybe even leaning towards agnostic or deistic, but she doesn't explicitly say it. What's cool is that the film shows both good and bad people in the churches and convents, avoiding the trap of being overly critical of religion. Unlike some movies that take a hard stance, this one gives a balanced view, acknowledging that while religion needs scrutiny for the bad stuff, it's not all negative.
Despite being an indie film from Film Movement, it looks like a mainstream movie with its great visuals, lighting, and scenery. The outdoor scenes in the French countryside are so well done that it feels like you're right there. The scenes where Suzanne talks about her torment and being locked up are intense and make you feel the tight, oppressive space.
However, not everything about the movie is perfect. Some religious folks might take issue with how certain nuns and clergy are portrayed, but personally, it didn't bother me much. The film does have slow parts, and the plot feels forced at times, even though it's set in a realistic setting. The big reveal about Suzanne's father felt too obvious, and it took away some excitement for me.
In the end, The Nun is a quiet movie with good visuals and acting, but it suffers from moments of boredom. Despite its strengths, I couldn't give it a super high grade because the plot meanders. Personally, I liked another movie, Stations of the Cross, better for its critique of religion, even though it's set in the 21st century. The Nun is decent but not amazing.