Suzanne Simonin, the Nun of Diderot

Suzanne Simonin, the Nun of Diderot , sometimes called the Nun , is a film of Jacques Rivette, adapted novel the Nun of Diderot and left in 1967.

Synopsis

At the 18th century, Suzanne Simonin is cloîtrée against its liking by his/her parents who intend it for the conventual life without it having the Vocation of it.
Elle will undergo in particular the cruelty of a sadistic Abbesse and the Sexual harassment of another.

Distribution

Anna Karina: Suzanne
Liselotte Pulver : Mrs. de Chelles
Micheline Presle: Mrs. de Moni
Francine Bank: sister Holy-Christine
Francisco Rabal: Dom Morel
Christiane Lénier: Mrs. Simonin
Yori Bertin: sister Saint-Therese
Catherine Diamant: sister Saint-Ursule
Gillette Barber: sister Midsummer's Day
Annik Morice: sister Saint-Jerome
Danielle Palmero: sister Saint-Clement
Francoise Godde: the servant
Jean Martin: Mr Hébert
Marc Eyraud: the father Seraph
Charles Millot: Mr Simonin

Data sheet

original Title: Suzanne Simonin, the Nun of Denis Diderot
Coming out date: the July 26th 1967 in rooms (France). The film was presented the previous year to the Cannes festival.
Realizer: Jacques Rivette
Scenario: Jacques Rivette and Jean Gruault, according to the novel of Denis Diderot.
Producing: Georges de Beauregard
Lasted: 135 min
Country: France
Format: color (Eastmancolor), its Mono.
Original music: Jean-Claude Eloy.
Other musics: François Couperin, Johann Martini, Johann Pachelbel and Jean-Philippe Branch
Photography: Alain Levent
Montage: Denise de Casabianca
Costumes: Gitt Magrini

Around film

Genesis

At the end of the Years 1950, the producer Georges de Beauregard, who has just read the book of Diderot, proposes in Jacques Rivette to carry out it. After having received in 1962 an opinion of unfavourable précensure of the Audit Board, the scenario, having written by Rivette and Jean Gruault, is adapted in 1963 for the theater to the Studio of the Fields-Elysées, under the direction of Jean-Luc Godard and with Anna Karina in the role of Suzanne Simonin. The part will not start a scandal and will not gain any success besides.

Censure

As pointed out it at the time François Mauriac in Le Figaro , the call to censure the Nun was launched before even as whoever saw film. The hierarchy of the Catholic church, then in full council of the Vatican II (intended to modernize the Church), did not seek the scandal, but associations of parents of pupils of the private school and, especially, sisters are alarmed as of 1965: the president of the Union of higher major writes the October 12th 1965 with the Minister for Information Alain Peyrefitte to inform him of her concern: “a film blasphématoire which dishonors the nuns”. The minister comforts it without ambiguity: “I entirely share the feelings which animate you” and the insurance gives him which it will use all its capacities to prevent film from harming the image of the nuns. Some (whose Jacques Rivette) think that the intervention of Yvonne de Gaulle, wife of the general and president, and former student of Dominican, was also determining. Turning will be a little constrained (refusal to authorize turning with the Abbaye of Fontevraud, depend on the Historic buildings).

The March 22nd 1966, the Audit Board authorizes the distribution of film but this one must be prohibited with less than 18 years. One week later, Yvon Bourges (Secretary of State to Information) joins together the commission again and convenes the director of the national security there, Maurice Grimaud, in order to expose the disorders to the law and order which the film can cause. The commission does not change however its vote, but its opinion is only advisory and on April 1st, 1966, Yvon Bourges prohibits the distribution and the export of film.

Legal battle

The censure causes an outcry: Jean-Luc Godard challenges André Malraux which it calls Minister for Kultur . Many public personalities, including clergy, rise. Malraux itself does not prevent film being selected for the Cannes festival and from being projected there. Georges de Beauregard and his lawyer Georges Kiejman launch out in a legal battle. In 1967, the administrative court cancels the decision of prohibition, for legal flaw. The new Minister for Information, Georges Gorse, grants a visa of exploitation to him but confirms his prohibition with less than 18 years. The decision to cancel the censure of film will be definitively confirmed by the Council of State in 1975.

Success

The film leaves the July 26th 1967 in five Parisian rooms. Extremely of its publicity and sound will have scandalous, it records 165 000 entries in five weeks. The novel of Diderot benefits from this success and is republished several times. The public discovers a film sober and extremely faithful to the novel of which it is the adaptation, undoubtedly not deserving the sulfurous publicity which surrounded its exit and which Jacques Rivette will never explain not to have sought.

External bonds

'' the Nun '', on imdb.com
censure of '' the Nun '', Le Monde , 8/26/2006 (article largely used for the section “Around film”).

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