La neuvaine

If a single picture can be worth a thousand words of reflection on the theme of changing seasons, then a new motion picture by Quebec writer-director Bernard Émond (20h17 rue Darling) could be said to be worth a thousand verses on the subject of life passages, rebirth and recovery. The Novena also offers the most profoundly respectful representation of honest Catholic faith seen at the movies in a very long time. It does so without any cloying religious sentimentality or sermonizing. Moreover, while remaining rigorously realistic in showing deadly violence, illness, and unbelief, The Novena's greatest achievement is committing to film pure acts of meditative silence and healing kindness. Most of us during our lives will experience, or know someone who is challenged by, deep physical and/or mental distress. The expression "there but for the grace of God go I", comes easily when bad things happen to others. But if such events happen to us, we cannot be sure how well we will cope, no matter how much we are used to being in control. Will we find the loving supports or guardian angel to pull us through? The Novena is that rarity combining religious observance and secular life with total integrity, dignity, and no trace of irony. It is the creation of an assured filmmaker that compares with that of the Swedish master Ingmar Bergman. While some will find it too slow-paced and sombre, I applaud its meticulous measured unfolding as brilliantly acted, edited, and photographed. Each frame is exquisitely lit and composed, from shadowy interiors to panoramic landscapes. The Novena won three awards at the Locarno film festival in August, including best actor for Patrick Drolet. It was also shown at September's Toronto festival. But among the recent parade of quality Quebec movies (such as "C.R.A.Z.Y.", Canada's official entry in the best foreign-language Oscar sweepstakes)director Émond makes no crowd-pleasing concessions of any kind. For the sake of a larger audience and a North American release, The Novena could perhaps use one of its own.

I enjoyed very much this story about Jeanne and François: a story with quite short dialogues but with a great intensity.

On one side we see François who lives with his grandmother who is ill (her heart is weak)and François goes to the church and dedicates a novena to Saint Anne for the health his grand mother.

On the other side we see Jeanne, a physician who has has lost her, is a caring woman but is suffering from a great depression.

Then at the shores of river Jeanne, quite desperate, is looking at the river. François arrives with in his pickup,is eating a sandwich and is looking at the strange lonely woman. He decided to talk with her and toprotect her against the cold, later he buys for him and for her a meal:only some words betweeen them. Little by little François will meet again Jeanne at the shores of the river and will care for her.

A sober and touching story about the faith, about the respect and finally about the gratitude.

I enjoyed the performances of Elise Guilbault, Patrick Drolet, Claude Binet, Lise Castonguay, Pierre Colin,Stéphane Demers, Denise Gagnon and Paul Hébert.

I saw this film about a year ago, and I found it very good. Not because of the action, but because of the introspection it causes. Élise Guilbert was outstanding in her role, as was Patrick Drolet. Bernard Émond didn't make a movie for a specific demographic, which is becoming more and more common even here, he wrote a movie about something that matters to him. Even though he is an admitted atheist, his movie revolves around the first of the three theological virtues, that of faith, and how it can be misplaced, misjudged, and yet so ingrained in our heritage.

The movie didn't try to play on clichés, nor did it try to explain and justify everything. It simply tells a good story, and Élise Guilbert will be back in the third film of the triptychch, the second one, CONTRE TOUTE ESPÉRANCE, is coming out on August 17th, and deals with Hope. I look forward to seeing it.

I saw this film at the 2006 Palm Springs International Film Festival. Élise Guilbert is fascinating as Jeanne and Patrick Drolet delivers a fine performance as François in this very serious and somber drama but I found how the way they came together to be a little implausible. I got the St.Anne-grandmother-savior parallel connection right away in the film and felt it was unnecessary for the film to point out it out to me later on in the film. I found myself predicting the ending about halfway through the film. This movie is really slow in parts that seem to drag on. The script is a little weak as is the dialog. I liked the story and the premise of the film but felt it could have been done a little differently. I would rate it a 6.5 or possibly a 7.0 but wouldn't go out of my way to see it twice.

La Neuvaine won 3 awards in Italy last august, including a well deserve acting award for Patrick Drolet. Elyse Guilbault should have won also. Very slow pace movie. We witness the meeting of a religious young man and a woman doctor who does not believe in God. She wants to commit suicide, he wants his grand-mother to survive her terminal illness. The acting is superb. A well written script and a beautiful cinematography help us not to forget a thought provoking film. I went to see the film with friends and we talked about it at least an hour long after the viewing. I hope it gets the recognition it deserves in Canada, the States and the world.