Previous religious films have attempted to capture the topsy-turvy nature that the Catholic Church faced in the aftermath of the Second Vatican Council. However, this film gives that transition a new point of view in this film; in the past viewers have typically only seen the laity's, or common person's, struggle with accepting the changes of Vatican II. "Novitiate" gives the women of the Church a voice.
The acting in the film was brilliant and beautifully captured the feelings that any young person would have if they would be giving their life away as in the film, especially regarding sexuality. However, some of the finer details of the film seem to have very little basis in research. While admittedly a banal item, the spoken Latin in the film was very off-putting. Also, an archbishop would not have full autonomy over a women's religious community as is portrayed in the film. Again, these are minor details, but minor details can make or break any film. Also, it seemed that the film was trying to suggest that the only people who could "make it" in a convent like this are the brainwashed, ill-informed members. The film would have done well to show some members of the community who were genuinely happy.
The film did capture the chaotic nature that religious communities faced after Vatican II, but the film only ended up telling half the story. While it's true that most women's religious communities dwindled after the reforms, there were many more liberal leaning communities that thrived and used the reforms of the Council to better reach the outside world.
Overall, though, this film offers the outsider a small glimpse of world that is otherwise completely cut off and separate from their own. "Novitiate" offers the viewer a chance to understand how the 21st century Church got to be where it is today.
The acting in the film was brilliant and beautifully captured the feelings that any young person would have if they would be giving their life away as in the film, especially regarding sexuality. However, some of the finer details of the film seem to have very little basis in research. While admittedly a banal item, the spoken Latin in the film was very off-putting. Also, an archbishop would not have full autonomy over a women's religious community as is portrayed in the film. Again, these are minor details, but minor details can make or break any film. Also, it seemed that the film was trying to suggest that the only people who could "make it" in a convent like this are the brainwashed, ill-informed members. The film would have done well to show some members of the community who were genuinely happy.
The film did capture the chaotic nature that religious communities faced after Vatican II, but the film only ended up telling half the story. While it's true that most women's religious communities dwindled after the reforms, there were many more liberal leaning communities that thrived and used the reforms of the Council to better reach the outside world.
Overall, though, this film offers the outsider a small glimpse of world that is otherwise completely cut off and separate from their own. "Novitiate" offers the viewer a chance to understand how the 21st century Church got to be where it is today.