‘NOVITIATE’: Saturday, February 10, 6pm, Guild Hall

HIFF presents an exciting new series of screenings, in partnership with Guild Hall and Bay Street Theater, that brings notable films currently in theaters to the East End. Curated by HIFF, the series features acclaimed first-run art house, independent, and world cinema.


Novitiate 650

Novitiate

Saturday, February 10 | 6:00pm | Guild Hall
Director: Maggie Betts | USA | 2017 | 
123 minutes
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In her feature debut, writer/director Maggie Betts offers a contemplative, affecting, and complicated coming-of-age story about Cathleen (Margaret Qualley, The Leftovers), a teenage girl who falls “in love” with God.

Set in the 1960s as the Catholic Church is roiled by the reforms of Vatican II, NOVITIATE (#HIFF25) features breakout performances by a cast of remarkable young female actors, grounded by screen veterans Melissa Leo (THE FIGHTER, FROZEN RIVER) and Julianne Nicholson (AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, I, TONYA).

Entering a convent under the harsh tutelage of a Reverend Mother (played to the hilt by Leo), Cathleen and her fellow hopefuls find an institution in turmoil, where they’re forced to reckon with issues of faith, passion, and devotion within, and beyond, the church.

“A faith-based film that’s about the actual search for faith—and about how often that journey leads us where it will, rather than where we want to go.” —The Star-Ledger


Tickets are $15 for general admission and $12 for HIFF and Guild Hall members. HIFF members: purchase tickets online from Guild Hall and select ‘member price’ to receive your discount (your name will be checked against our member roster). Enjoy!

Other films in the series:
THE DIVINE ORDER on Saturday, January 27, at Guild Hall
THE OTHER SIDE OF HOPE on Sunday, February 4, at Bay Street Theater
THE INSULT on Sunday, February 18, at Bay Street Theater