Novitiate Review: Mildly Engaging Coming-of-Age Drama

Vatican II ushered the Catholic Church into the modern age, which of course didn’t bode well. A massive exodus of nuns followed, leaving the curious and the believers baffled. This is the backdrop of Novitiate, a coming of age story about a girl named Cathleen.

Margaret Qualley, along with the rest of the girls, are a perfect fit for their roles. Maggie Betts does a good job of capturing their innocence and confusion. Thanks to cinematographer Kat Westergaard Novitiate is a beautifully captured movie despite the stark utilitarian surroundings, giving the girls a soft glow against a cold backdrop.

This movie doesn’t demonize its characters or portray the Church in a bad light. People celebrating around a campfire isn’t solely a witch’s tradition. Novitiate shows us a glimpse of the convent life, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing to tackle. The problem is another character has a bigger story to tell.

The movie shifts its perspective to the Reverend Mother Marie St. Claire, whose side of the narrative outweighs a coming-of-age drama more concerned with the erotic potential of repressed young girls in a convent – secret kisses, and intimacy. Melissa Leo mixes in just enough camp and vulnerability to portray a frightening yet complex Mother Superior. It’s the classic case of holier-than-thou through assumed power.

“You might consider me the voice of God around here,” Reverend Mother says. She, later on, subjects the girls to hazing as she gets frustrated with the memos she receives. Through this, the movie expands into a clash of ideals between adaptation and tradition. When the archbishop visits the convent to confront her about resisting Vatican II, it’s sweet karmic justice for the forward-thinking Sister Mary Grace who was overpowered by Reverend Mother St. Claire.

This presents some interesting questions. How much sacrifice do you need to make in a man’s world where you are silenced and the supreme law you devote yourself to follow is open to subjective interpretation? How can you really determine if a person’s motivation is pure and noble for selfless piousness?

Novitiate takes the more conventional route instead of exploring the stereotypical rigid Catholic school disciplinarian that inspired evil creepy fictional nuns. At the same time, the script doesn’t really put Cathleen through the ring of fire.

In fairness, Cathleen’s side of the story provides an interesting tale of a girl realizing and making a choice of what she really wants in life. Is she in love with Jesus or is she compensating for a deadbeat father?

“I want more,” Cathleen says in the final ceremony that will officially turn her into a Novitiate. It’s a worthwhile pursuit, but you can’t help but think that the movie opted for less.