''Dialogue with the Carmelites'' (french: Le dialogue des Carmélites, it, I dialoghi delle Carmelitane, also known as ''The Carmelites'') is a 1960 French-Italian

historical History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

written and directed by Raymond Léopold Bruckberger and

Philippe Agostini Philippe Agostini was a French cinematographer, director and screenwriter born 11 August 1910 in Paris (France), died 20 October 2001. He was married to Odette Joyeux until the end of her life. Biography Founder of École Louis-Lumière (sit ...

. It is based upon the play by

Georges Bernanos Louis Émile Clément Georges Bernanos (; 20 February 1888 – 5 July 1948) was a French author, and a soldier in World War I. A Catholic with monarchist leanings, he was critical of elitist thought and was opposed to what he identified as defea ...

, which in turn was adapted from the novel by

Gertrud von Le Fort The Baroness Gertrud von Le Fort (full name ''Gertrud Auguste Lina Elsbeth Mathilde Petrea Freiherr, Freiin von Le Fort''; 11 October 1876 – 1 November 1971) was a German writer of novels, poems and essays. Life Le Fort was born in the city ...

. It's the story of the

Martyrs of Compiègne The Martyrs of Compiègne were the 16 members of the Carmel of Compiègne, France: 11 Discalced Carmelite nuns, three lay sisters, and two externs (or tertiaries). They were executed by the guillotine towards the end of the Reign of Terror, at ...

, Carmelite nuns who were guillotined in Paris in 1794 in the waning days of the

Reign of Terror The Reign of Terror (french: link=no, la Terreur) was a period of the French Revolution when, following the creation of the First Republic, a series of massacres and numerous public executions took place in response to revolutionary fervour, ...

during the French Revolution, after refusing to renounce their vocation.

Plot

During the difficult years of the French Revolution, the young noblewoman Bianca, on the advice of her father, the Marquis de la Force, decided to enter the cloistered convent of the Carmelites of Compiègne. The need to find a safe refuge is accompanied by a certain religious vocation, but, despite this, Bianca is afraid of facing sacrifices and suffering and is afraid of not being up to her choice. Soon the revolutionary authorities and the people will begin to annoy the nuns, accused of being reactionary, enemies of the homeland, who grab riches and give hospitality to the fugitives. Forced to leave the convent, the nuns vow to be willing to sacrifice their lives so that the Catholic religion can survive in France. Dispersed in small groups, almost all of them will be arrested, found guilty and sentenced to death. The procession that accompanies them to the Square of the Reversed Throne, where the execution will take place, will cross the streets of Paris between prayers, blessings and religious songs. Bianca de la Force, with courage, will climb the gallows in place of Mother Mary of the Incarnation, who will be the only one to be saved and who alone will have to continue to practice the teaching of Carmel.

Cast

* Jeanne Moreau : Mère Marie de l'Incarnation *

Alida Valli Alida Maria Laura, ''Freiin'' Altenburger von Marckenstein-Frauenberg (31 May 1921 – 22 April 2006), better known by her stage name Alida Valli (or simply Valli), was an Italian actress who appeared in more than 100 films in a 70-year career, s ...

: Mère Thérèse de Saint-Augustin * Madeleine Renaud : First Prioress *

Pascale Audret Pascale Audret (12 October 1935, Neuilly-sur-Seine – 17 July 2000) was a French actress who was most active during the 1950s through the 1960s. Career While she starred in over 25 films between 1955 and 1968, her success never crossed over int ...

: Blanche de la Force *

Pierre Brasseur Pierre Brasseur (22 December 1905 – 16 August 1972), born Pierre-Albert Espinasse, was a French actor. Biography The son of actors Georges Espinasse and Germaine Brasseur, the latter a cousin of Albert Brasseur; his grandfather, Jules B ...

: Commissioner of the Revolution *

Jean-Louis Barrault Jean-Louis Bernard Barrault (; 8 September 1910 – 22 January 1994) was a French actor, director and mime artist who worked on both screen and stage. Biography Barrault was born in Le Vésinet in France in 1910. His father was 'a Burgundia ...

: Mime * Anne Doat : Sister Constance de Saint-Denis *

Georges Wilson Georges Wilson (16 October 1921 – 3 February 2010) was a French film and television actor. He was the father of French actor Lambert Wilson. Biography Wilson was born in Champigny-sur-Marne, Seine (now Val-de-Marne) as the illegitimate s ...

: Chaplain of the Carmel *

Pascale de Boysson Pascale de Boysson (16 April 1922–9 August 2002) was a French film, television and stage actress who also adapted and translated plays for the French stage. She was a two-time winner of the Molière Award, winning it in 1988 and posthumousl ...

: Sister Cécile * Hélène Dieudonné : Sister Jeanne de la Divine Enfance * Pierre Bertin : Marquis de la Force *

Claude Laydu Claude Laydu (; 10 March 1927 – 29 July 2011) was a Belgian-born Swiss actor on stage and in films. He was renowned for his performance in his film debut in the role of the young priest in Robert Bresson's '' Diary of a Country Priest'' (1951 ...

: Chevalier de la Force *

Daniel Ceccaldi Daniel Ceccaldi (25 July 1927 – 27 March 2003) was a French actor. He was born in Meaux, Seine-et-Marne, France. The mild-mannered Daniel Ceccaldi is famous as Claude Jade's father ''Lucien Darbon'' in François Truffaut's movies ''Stolen Kis ...

: Officier *

Judith Magre Judith Magre (born 20 November 1926) is a French actress, born in Montier-en-Der, Haute-Marne Haute-Marne (; English: Upper Marne) is a department in the Grand Est region of Northeastern France. Named after the river Marne, its prefecture i ...

: Rose Ducor

References

External links

* 1960 films Films directed by Philippe Agostini Drama films based on actual events Films based on works by Georges Bernanos Films set in the 1790s French Revolution films 1960s historical drama films French historical drama films Italian historical drama films 1960s French-language films 1960s French films 1960s Italian films {{1960s-Italy-film-stub