The Innocents (Agnus Dei) [DVD] (English subtitles)

Director by and partly written by Anne Fontaine, “Les Innocentes” is a powerful, emotional, tense and thought provoking film. It is bleak and the bleakness of the story is further emphasised by the stark photography from Caroline Champetier (cinematographer on “Holy Motors” and “Of Gods and Men” amongst many other films and documentaries), and from a fantastic cast: Agata Kulesza, Agata Buzek, Joanna Kulig, Anna Próchniak (Kama from Warsaw ’44), and Lou de Laâge amongst others.“Les Innocentes” opens with the on-screen statement “Cette histoire est inspirée de faits reel” “This story is based on actual events”, though as with any fact-based film, one never knows from watching the film, how loosely or not those facts are shown.If a synopsis is known, then the horror at the heart of the film is obvious, but this is no straight forward story and we also get to see that pious beliefs can also inflict suffering on innocent lives as well.An excellent director, cinematographer, cast, and story, for me, “Les Innocentes” is a great film.This is a French and Polish film, with a mainly Polish cast. The DVD I watched it on was a Polish version (with original film dialogue and optional French and English Subtitles, but the case, in book form that includes a twenty-two page booklet, was all in Polish).On that DVD (ASIN 8377787504) you get:“Les Innocentes” “Niewinne” (1 hour 51 minutes)Scene SelectionOptional English and French SubtitlesExtra Features: Ten extra features including trailers, though all are withouth English Subtitles.

I was engaged with the dilemma of the characters right from the start and the different and difficult choices that had to be made. The coldnss of the winter setting, the bleakness and bareness of the convent, the apparent divide between the prayer of the community (singing Advent hymns about the coming of the Saviour born of a virgin, and what in reality was happening to a number of them) The crisis of faith in God in some who professed to live a religious life and the practical love of neighbour shown in the communist nurse and the Jewish doctor. All in all I found it harrowing but totally engaging,

I think this film must have bene great but it is difficult to really say because the subtitles were practically non- existent. A sentence out of 15 was subtitled. Most of the film was in French and I understand it a bit, so I was able to undestabd something, but when they spoke Polish of course I did not understand anything.It is very sad because I really thought it must be a great film.

This is a strange film but very beautiful and I was very glad to have a chance of watching it. Unfortunately there are no instructions with it to help you click on the English sub-titles, and it's not at all obvious how to do it, but I managed to work it out: where the film is due to start, you have to click along to "ustawienia" and then you can click on the sub-titles.

I have just ordered this DVD having seen the film last night. It is truly brilliant! I am sorry some other reviewers did not work out how to get the subtitles. It would make sense for those selling Polish films to include some instructions, as indeed did the sellers of another film, "Karbala". To get into set up normally you click on "Ustawienia". To choose subtitles look for "Napisy". If there are different options and you want English choose Angielskie. Turning off subtitles is "Wylanczone"; "Wlanczone" is on. "Powrot do filmu" is taking you back to play the film.But seriously this is a most interesting film, said to be based on real events. Needs to be seen to be appreciated propery.

Disappointing: a DVD WITHOUT ENGLISH SUBTITLES

... mit englischem oder französischem Untertitel. Sogar die Bildqualität wurde meiner Ansicht nach noch nachgebessert zu der Variante, die ich auf arte gesehen hatte. Absolut sehenswert!

Good fact based movie. As in all war time period movies the ugly side of man comes through with no regard for the innocent who just happen to be on the other side of the divide. All are seen as the enemy and whatever possible damage inflicted to the enemy by what ever means is considered fair game by some. Humanity dissolves and the beast resurges.

Anche se in polacco e francese e con i sottotitoli in inglese si segue benissimo ed è sicuramente un dvd da vedere. Molto intenso !!!

A la fin de la seconde guerre mondiale, lors de la contre-offensive soviétique sur l'armée allemande, des soldats russes, ivres de leur succès, s'adonnaient impunément à des représailles sur des femmes dans les pays qu'ils envahissaient. Ce film raconte justement ces événements dans un couvent de Pologne dans lequel des soeurs, victimes d'un viol collectif, se retrouvent engrossées en mème temps. Le thème du film est non seulement attaché à expliquer le cas de conscience de ses religieuses dont les voeux de chasteté sont, dès lors, bafoués mais aussi de révéler le dévouement d'une jeune médecin française qui parviendra à leur faire accepter que de donner la vie n'est pas qu'un pêché mortel mais aussi un don de Dieu.

dur de voir à quel point, l'Homme peut devenir pire qu'une bête, emprisonné par le Malin.. mais voilà que Dieu est plus fort que le Mal et transforme ce Mal en un plus grand Bien… étonnant de voir cette Mère supérieure confondre le Bien et le Mal : l'enfer est pavé de 'bonnes' intentions ! mais on est heureux de voir le Chemin de Vie que prend cette jeune doctoresse au contact de la misère des religieuses, misère qu'elle expérimente elle-même et lui fait trouver la Voie, la Vérité, la Vie !