Novitiate

Right now you can watch Novitiate on Hoopla — and it holds up to as much attention as you give it. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Margaret Qualley leads a cast that never overplays its hand. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Hoopla.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Novitiate is worth clearing space for. Novitiate trusts its audience to sit with discomfort instead of resolving it too quickly. In the early 1960s, during the Vatican II era, a young woman training to become a nun struggles with issues of faith, sexuality and the changing church. Margaret Qualley and Melissa Leo lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2017. The performances in Novitiate do a lot of work in the silences between the dialogue. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Drama fans who appreciate slow-burn storytelling will feel right at home with Novitiate. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Margaret Qualley is the centre of it, and it is one of their strongest performances on record. The patience it asks of you early on is paid back with interest.