The Innocents
In 1945, immediately after World War II, a young female doctor working for the Red Cross in Poland is beseeched by a nun to come with her to the convent to attend to an urgent medical matter. When she arrives, the doctor is confronted with a nun in labour, and informed that there are several others who are pregnant and at term.
This is the true story of a cloistered, stoic order of Polish nuns who were repeatedly raped by Russian soldiers during the war; and of the brave doctor who gave them medical – and emotional – support. Director Anne Fontaine handles this challenging story with sensitivity and empathy but also with a degree of neutrality, as if she doesn’t want to impose judgements or conclusions, but rather let the viewer absorb and then cogitate in their own time. There is far too much to try and explore within the length of a film.
The performances are all strong with Lou de Laâge engrossing as the doctor, Mathilde. Agata Kulesza is the conflicted and complex Abbess. Vincent Macaigne adds a masculine counterpoint to the cast as Mathilde’s colleague Samuel. Agata Buzek plays Sister Maria as a foil to the Abbess. She and several nun characters help diverge from stereotypes.
Set mostly in the convent or at night, the film is dark and solemn. It is moving, thought provoking and confronting, yet also uplifting in its depiction of the more positive sides of humanity and ultimate triumph of the spirit.
★★★★
Reviewed by Rita Bratovich.
