directed by Anne Fontaine, drama, 115 min, eng subtitles, 16+
written by Anne Fontaine, Pascal Bonitzer, Sabrina B. Karine, Alice Vial
with Lou de Laâge, Vincent Macaigne, Agata Buzek, Agata Kulesza
Inspired by true events, Agnus Dei is a French-Polish drama, set in post-war Poland (1945). The film gives an account of the events and crisis of faith in a Polish convent in the aftermath of the atrocities committed during the Second World War. Mathilde, a young French doctor with the Red Cross, is on a mission to help World War II survivors. After a nun approaches her for help, she is taken to a convent where several pregnant sisters are hidden away from the past barbarism of Soviet soldiers. Unable to reconcile their faith with their pregnancies, the nuns turn to Mathilde, who becomes their only hope.
A moving story reflecting on the conflict between science and faith, bringing to light a little-known aspect of Polish history, seen from the women's perspective.
Awards:
Valladolid IFF 2016 (FIPRESCI Award)