Novitiate (2017)

In the heart of the American South, amidst the tumultuous 1960s, a young woman named Cathleen Harris embarks on an extraordinary journey of faith. Raised in a home devoid of religion, Cathleen is an anomaly within the sacred walls of the Convent of the Beloved Rose, where she has resided for nearly two years, transitioning from postulant to novice. Her life before the convent is defined by her mother Nora's non-religious disposition and a series of one-night stands, as well as an absentee father who is more acquainted with alcohol than familial responsibility. These experiences only serve to strengthen Cathleen's resolve to find the love she craves in the arms of a divine spouse. An encounter with two nuns at the tender age of 12 sets Cathleen on a path to Catholicism, offering her both a sanctuary in the form of a Catholic girls' school and a promise of a promising future, contingent on her academic excellence. This spiritual calling intensifies as Cathleen grows and, by 1964, she feels compelled to leave her home behind to commit fully to a spiritual marriage with Christ. However, her journey is not as idyllic as it seems. The convent, led by Reverend Mother Marie Saint Clare, is steeped in tradition and resistance to change. The Reverend Mother's belief in her divine authority and the perfection of her faith leads to a staunch refusal to accept the wave of modernization sweeping through the Catholic Church in the form of the Second Vatican Council, or Vatican II. This refusal to adapt creates a storm of contention within the convent walls, especially with progressive figures like Sister Mary Grace, the Mistress of Postulants and Novices. Cathleen's pursuit of spiritual fulfillment is set against this backdrop of internal conflict and resistance to change. As she navigates the trials of her novitiate journey, the question remains whether Cathleen can survive the Reverend Mother's rigid methods and the convent's refusal to embrace modernity, and ultimately, whether she will succeed in her quest to become a nun.

Novitiate is a drama movie featuring Margaret Qualley and directed by Margaret Betts.

Novitiate is currently streaming on DIRECTV and Starz Apple TV Channel.

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