''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

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 ...

written and directed by Raymond Léopold Bruckberger and Philippe Agostini. It is based upon the play by Georges Bernanos, which in turn was adapted from the novel by Gertrud von Le Fort. 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 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, ...

: Mère Thérèse de Saint-Augustin * Madeleine Renaud : First Prioress * Pascale Audret : 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 : Mime * Anne Doat : Sister Constance de Saint-Denis * Georges Wilson : Chaplain of the Carmel * Pascale de Boysson : Sister Cécile * Hélène Dieudonné : Sister Jeanne de la Divine Enfance * Pierre Bertin : Marquis de la Force * Claude Laydu : 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 : 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