Out of the second wave of film titles (read here) announced for the upcoming Toronto Film Festival, it’s the inclusion of Bruno Dumont’s Hadewijch that would be the top of my must see list and this coming from the filmmaker whose 2004 film Twentynine Palms almost made me vomit. I’m always fascinated by elliptical form, so despite the negative previous experience I’m curious about artists/filmmakers such as Dumont. I was thinking that Hadewijch was set for Cannes (Flanders was showcased and won the Grand Prix in Cannes in 2006) and now I’m perplexed as to why the film is receiving a world premiere not in Venice, but non-competitive Toronto?
The film is about a religious novice (Julie Sokolowski) whose ecstatic, blind faith leads to her expulsion from a convent. Returning to her former life, Hadewijch reverts to being Céline, a Parisienne and daughter of a diplomat. However, her passion for God, rage and encounters with Khaled and Nassir soon lead her down a dangerous path. Here are some production pics with several dozen worth checking out here.
