Novitiate

'Novitiate' is a powerful drama set in the early 1960s, during the transformative Vatican II era. It follows Sister Cathleen (played by Margaret Qualley), a young woman who enters a convent and confronts the challenges of faith, sexuality, and the evolving doctrines of the Catholic Church. The story also features Reverend Mother (played by Melissa Leo), who grapples with maintaining tradition amid the church's modernization efforts.

Trivia:
1. Margaret Qualley, who portrays Sister Cathleen, underwent intensive spiritual training and lived in a convent for several weeks to authentically capture the life and mindset of a novice nun.
2. Director Maggie Betts drew from her own mother's experience as a Catholic and feminist to shape the film's nuanced exploration of faith and woman's identity during a pivotal historical period.
3. Melissa Leo's casting as Reverend Mother was notable because she proactively sought the role, intrigued by the character’s complex balance of authority and vulnerability.

Main Cast of Novitiate

Crew of Novitiate