The Novices (1970) Review – Watch on CocoFlix

An Unlikely Alliance in 1970s Paris

As a time capsule, Guy Casaril’s 1970 film "The Novices" is an exciting addition to CocoFlix, with a premise as daring as it is lovely. The story shows Brigitte Bardot and Annie Girardot breaking the rules and expectations of society, as Bardot plays a sophisticated and, I would say, entrepreneurial prostitute, with Girardot as a novice fleeing her convent. The premise is delightfully simple. After years of enclosure in a convent and with the lack of purposeful skills and experience, Sister Agnès, played by Girardot, moves to the busy and, to say the least, confounding city of Paris from her rural convent. Mona Lisa (played by Bardot) takes Agnès in. As you might expect, it’s the typical fish out of water story, but it has a certain Parisian charm. Mona Lisa will do anything she can to help Agnès, including showing Agnès the ‘trade.’ The film is not devoid of the harsh social realities of its premise, but it looks at these issues with a lighthearted perspective of the hows and whys of social connectivity.

Bardot and Girardot: A Study in Contrasts

The main draw of “The Novices” is the interplay between its two female leads, and this film definitely delivers there. Annie Girardot depicts the brimming Sister Agnes perfectly; her Agnes is pure and curious, yet never foolish. The audience is right there with her, and so we empathize with her as her world grows. Agnes’ wide eyed responses, from the stale to the scandalous, prove to be both hilarious and heart wrenching. The epitome of Mona Lisa is Brigitte Bardot’s portrayal, and she knock’s it out of the park playing a grounded, pragmatic, and surprisingly caring mother figure for Sister Agnes. This is a more textured and warm role that Brigitte Bardot shows off. As always, the two leads’ chemistry is fantastic, as they act off of each other. Agnes’ spiritual naïveté comes up against Mona Lisa’s worldly cynicism to make hilarious, and meaningful, on screen events. The two leads bring a level of class and genuine heart to the material, which is not always easy to accomplish without sacrificing entertainment value. The chosen subject of the film has a tendency to be salacious. In the hands of these two actresses, “The Novices” becomes a much more uplifting and entertaining film; a heartwarming buddy comedy.

Charm, Pace, and Period Sensibilities

Agnès’ first steps out on her own are elegantly captured in “The Novices.” The film beautifully shows a side of Paris that is gritty and glam. This perfect mix of the subtle and the glamorous captures the beauty of Agnès’ transformation. The audience benefits from modern cinema’s lack of restraint, however, the slow and methodical pace of Casaril allows scenes to naturally play out. Adding to the slow and deliberate pace moments of the plot lacking a clear direction and mild digressions. Some of the jokes that break tradition of gender molds and traditional norms expose their ages. While the jokes are generally good natured, jokes that break gender molds and traditional norms would land differently with a modern day audience. The film is primarily concerned with showing the inner emotional journeys of the characters, rather than taking a deeper look at the social truths that surround them, and opts instead for the warm, lighthearted comedy. While the film accomplishes this, this lack of realism might be a barrier to audience members who appreciate stories with a clear edge and grit. The film has no hidden messages or moral of the story. It shows audience members lives that could be. It is the perfect film for savoring the art of the evolving friendship.

Who Should Seek Out 'The Novices'?

This movie won’t revolutionize cinema, but will engage audiences with its unique plot and talented execution. If you love French films from the 60s and 70s or appreciate movies that have unconventional, quirky, and heartfelt friendships, then you will love The Novices. It’s about breaking the routine and going your own way. It’s also about understanding the true essence of friendship. Though the period elements and pacing might be a bit hard to adjust to, both Bardot and Girardot deliver performances that will make this a movie you won’t forget. It’s a film that has a great ending and makes you think about all the funny and unexpected things that happen when you least expect it. It’s a nice addition to CocoFlix that will bring in customers looking for a strong character focused story, but will be something everyone will enjoy. It’s a great use of star power and talks about the importance of and most people can identify with, belonging and finding yourself.