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Thérèse

Play trailer Poster for Thérèse 1986 1h 30m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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89% Tomatometer 9 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
In this true story of a 19th-century nun who achieved sainthood, Thérèse Martin (Catherine Mouchet) hopes to follow in the footsteps of her two older sisters, who became members of the Carmelite order of nuns. Although the church resists initially because of her age, Thérèse stubbornly continues her quest to serve God, and even lobbies Pope Leo XIII (Armand Meppiel). Her wish is granted at age 15, when she joins the order and performs extraordinary works in a life abbreviated by illness.

Critics Reviews

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Jay Scott Globe and Mail 12/07/2022
[Cavelier] gives Thérèse respect, if not unconditional approval. Go to Full Review
Steven D. Greydanus Decent Films 10/13/2004
B+
Built of fleeting minimalist vignettes, almost snapshots, glimpses of its subject rather than an integral portrait. Is the final explanation from below or from above? Go to Full Review
Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 01/01/2000
3.5/4
It makes a bold attempt to penetrate to the mystery of Therese's sainthood, and yet it isn't propaganda for the church and it doesn't necessarily even approve of her choice of a vocation. Go to Full Review
Michael Bronski Gay Community News (Boston) 08/16/2022
Deals explicitly with the sexual component of a nun’s dedication to Christ and to some extent with lesbian feelings among the nuns themselves. Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 11/05/2015
B
I found it amazing that Cavalier's uncinematic film turned out so well. Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 06/30/2005
5/5
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Audience Reviews

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S R @ScottR Dec 27 An ode to this Catholic Nun who persevered despite her infirmities. It was tedious since I also had to watch in Hungarian since I couldn't find it in English. I saw it since it was on the Vatican 100 years of film list. See more 10/15/2018 Breathtakingly beautiful. See more 02/28/2012 This is the 1986 version, not the 2003. See more 03/06/2011 Mar 2011 - I suspected my interest in this catholic portrayal of St Therese may have declined after nearly 20 years but it is as fresh as ever. The images are as powerful as the magnificent silence. And so much for Mouchet's face and her amazing portrayal of Therese. The movie concentrates completely on the human relations and emotions and avoids any divine intervention or presence and this makes it more a humanistic drama than it is a religious one. See more 02/17/2010 While I liked the fact that the entire film took place in front of a gray backdrop, I really felt like there just wasn't much to "Therese." The removal of context placed a lot of responsibility on the characters themselves, and they just couldn't bear it. The film also failed to be as engaging as it should have been. This was supposed to be based on the life of a woman who was canonized. Show us why, please. See more 05/29/2008 One of my alltime favorite movies--not to everyone's taste but I found it engaging. The directort was a photogrpaher and the backdrops in some scenes give the film a sense of heightened realism and frame the action like a series of paintings... See more Read all reviews
Thérèse

My Rating

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Movie Info

Synopsis In this true story of a 19th-century nun who achieved sainthood, Thérèse Martin (Catherine Mouchet) hopes to follow in the footsteps of her two older sisters, who became members of the Carmelite order of nuns. Although the church resists initially because of her age, Thérèse stubbornly continues her quest to serve God, and even lobbies Pope Leo XIII (Armand Meppiel). Her wish is granted at age 15, when she joins the order and performs extraordinary works in a life abbreviated by illness.
Director
Alain Cavalier
Producer
Maurice Bernart
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Canadian French
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 7, 1986, Original
Runtime
1h 30m