| The Novena | |
| Native Name: | |
| Director: | Bernard Émond |
| Producer: | Bernadette Payeur |
| Starring: | Élise Guilbault Patrick Drolet |
| Music: | Robert Marcel Lepage |
| Cinematography: | Jean-Claude Labrecque |
| Editing: | Louise Côté |
| Studio: | ACPAV |
| Runtime: | 97 minutes |
| Country: | Canada |
| Language: | French |
The Novena (French: La Neuvaine) is a 2005 Canadian drama film, directed by Bernard Émond.[1]
An exploration of faith, the film centres on the interaction between Jeanne (Élise Guilbault), an atheist doctor who is suffering from clinical depression and wants to commit suicide after one of her patients is murdered by an abusive husband, and François (Patrick Drolet), a young, deeply religious man who is fervently praying for a miracle to save his dying grandmother.[2] The film is the first in a trilogy inspired by the Catholic theological virtues of faith, hope and charity, which continued with Summit Circle (Contre toute espérance) in 2007 and The Legacy (La Donation) in 2009.[3]
It premiered at the Locarno Film Festival in 2005, where it won three awards including Best Actor for Drolet.[3] In December 2005, it was named to the Toronto International Film Festival's annual Canada's Top Ten list of the year's best films.[4]
The film did not receive any Genie Award nominations, as its distributor deliberately chose not to submit the film at all.[5] It received eight Prix Jutra nominations, including Best Film, Best Director (Émond), Best Actor (Drolet), Best Actress (Guilbault), Best Screenplay (Émond), Best Cinematography (Jean-Claude Labrecque), Best Editing (Louise Côté) and Best Music (Robert Marcel Lepage).[6] Guilbault won the Jutra for Best Actress.[7]