Novitiate (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The film is set primarily at the Sisters of the Beloved Rose, a Catholic convent located in rural Tennessee. This isolated rural setting serves as both a space of spiritual aspiration and emotional turmoil, with the convent's strict discipline and traditional practices forming the backdrop for the characters' journeys.

• sisters of the beloved rose
• convent
• tennessee
• rural setting
• catholic convent

The film is set during 1962-1965, a transformative period for the Catholic Church known as Vatican II. This era brought significant changes to the Church, emphasizing reform, modernization, and a shift toward greater religious tolerance while reconsidering traditional practices.

• vatican ii
• 1960s
• catholic church reform
• historical period
• 1962-1965

The film explores three central themes: faith versus doubt, as Sister Cathleen grapples with her devotion while confronting her sexuality and the harsh realities of convent life; tradition versus modernity, portrayed through the conflict between the Reverend Mother and Sister Mary Grace over adapting to Vatican II reforms; and self-discovery, as Cathleen seeks to understand her identity beyond the confines of her religious upbringing.

• faith and doubt
• tradition vs modernity
• self-discovery
• spirituality
• identity
• sexuality

Sister Cathleen is the film's protagonist, a young woman who transitions from a troubled home life to a life of religious devotion at the convent. Despite her serious commitment to faith, she struggles with personal conflicts related to love, sexuality, and identity, showcasing her vulnerability as she navigates the expectations of convent life while grappling with her own desires.

• sister cathleen
• protagonist
• main character
• faith
• sexuality
• identity struggle

Reverend Mother Marie Saint-Clair is the stern and traditional head of the convent, played by Melissa Leo. She embodies the rigidity of convent life, enforcing strict discipline and traditional values. Her uncompromising nature presents a significant challenge for the postulants, particularly Sister Cathleen, as they try to reconcile their faith with personal growth during a time of Church reform.

• reverend mother
• melissa leo
• authority
• traditional values
• discipline
• convent rules

Sister Mary Grace, played by Dianna Agron, serves as a compassionate counterpoint to the Reverend Mother. She represents a more modern and understanding approach to faith, advocating for change and showing kindness to the postulants. Her progressive perspective ultimately influences Sister Cathleen's journey and highlights the broader conflict between traditionalist and modernist factions within the Church during Vatican II.

• sister mary grace
• dianna agron
• compassion
• modern faith
• progressive
• reform

Vatican II serves as the catalyst for conflict within the convent, as the reforms brought by the council force the sisters to reconsider traditional practices. The film portrays the slow and resisted implementation of these changes, creating tension between those who cling to established traditions like the Reverend Mother and those who embrace modernization like Sister Mary Grace. This institutional upheaval mirrors the personal struggles of the individual characters.

• vatican ii
• council
• church reform
• tradition
• modernization
• institutional change

The theme of faith versus doubt is central to the characters' journeys, particularly for Sister Cathleen. Her struggle signifies a broader conflict experienced by many within the Church during this period of change and re-evaluation. The film portrays the psychological and spiritual pressure of reconciling deep religious devotion with personal conflicts, including burgeoning sexuality and the harsh realities of convent life.

• faith
• doubt
• spirituality
• religious crisis
• psychological struggle
• sexuality repression

The film has a dark tone due to themes of repression, harsh discipline, and personal suffering, though it includes moments of vulnerability. The emotional weight is heavy, dealing directly with self-flagellation, starvation, sexual repression, and the psychological toll of extreme devotion. The pacing is slow, focusing on the gradual internal transformation of the protagonist rather than external action.

• dark tone
• emotional weight
• repression
• psychological toll
• slow pacing
• intense drama

The film ends ambiguously, with Sister Cathleen's final statement, 'I seek something more,' suggesting a resolution that is neither fully within nor outside the Church. This unresolved ending reflects her ongoing journey of self-discovery and the lasting impact of her experiences at the convent, leaving her ultimate path uncertain as she continues to grapple with faith, identity, and personal fulfillment.

• ambiguous ending
• resolution
• i seek something more
• cathleen's future
• unresolved ending

Nora Harris, played by Julianne Nicholson, is Cathleen's mother who embodies a more secular perspective outside the convent. She grapples with her daughter's religious choices and represents the changing societal landscape for women during this era. Her tumultuous relationships and attempts to provide normalcy for Cathleen contrast with the isolated, disciplined world of the convent.

• nora harris
• julianne nicholson
• mother
• secular perspective
• family conflict
• societal change

The clash between traditional values and modern interpretations of faith is vividly portrayed through the contrasting approaches of Reverend Mother and Sister Mary Grace. This theme highlights the challenges of adapting to new ideologies while remaining rooted in established beliefs, particularly during the shifts initiated by Vatican II. The conflict plays out both institutionally among the sisters and personally within Sister Cathleen's journey.

• tradition
• modernity
• conflict
• church reform
• old vs new
• institutional tension