All language subtitles for Le Dialogue des Carmelites 1960.ENG

THE CARMELITES

Father, I cannot lie.

I'm happy.

I might do wrong in telling
you this, my lord,

But suddenly, when I saw Miss
Blanche in her wedding dress,

I thought of seeing again the lady,
her mother, and you at her arm.

Yes, my good Thierry. Thanks.
I also thought of that. - Father. - Yes?

Do you think it is wise to
return through Saint Denis?

Yes, it is true. We'd meet the crowd
and couldn't endure it.

And in these times we should
be back before dark.

Yes Thierry, avoid going to Saint Denis.

What do you ask for?
- God's mercy and yours.

In the world your name was
Marie Genevieve Meunier.

In religion, your name will be
Constance of St. Denis, Martyr.

In the world your name
was Blanche de la Force.

In religion, your name will be
Blanche of the Agony of Christ.

Our help is in the name of the Lord,

Who made heaven and earth.

God be praised!

God be praised!

Welcome, Sister Blanche!
- Thank you!

Do you feel happy, Sister Blanche?
- Very happy, thank you!

Good night, Sister Blanche.

My daughter, the rule
orders to close the door.

Mother, I believe I will
never be a good Carmelite.

A scary skull for everybody.

They should warn of the
presence of this object

in the cell of a Carmelite.

God has sent you here, Mother,

to hear what I have not
had the courage to tell.

There is a fatal weakness in me
that made me suffer greatly.

As a child, I couldn't climb stairs
without thinking it was going to collapse.

I have always been afraid
of life and death.

Poor little thing.

You've dreamed of this house as a little
girl dreams in her dark room,

of a common room,
with its light and its heat.

You know nothing about the
loneliness, how a Carmelite must live ..

..or die.

Mother, I thought
I was honest a while ago.

I did not mean to lie
to my father.

What did you tell him?
- That I was happy.

We do not seek happiness here.

Our Bridegroom is not
the smiling Christ

who is shown
in religious images.

He is the Man of Sorrows
of whom speak Holy Scriptures.

My daughter, in the spirit of Carmel
there is no room for softness.

But I'm sick,

condemned, as stated
by our doctor, Mr. Javelinot.

And so, I can be moved.

Great tests await you, my daughter.

It won't matter,
if God gives me strength.

What God wants to prove in you it is not
your strength but your weakness.

The nights are short in the Carmel.

And, as a good soldier,

a Carmelite should know sleep.

Passing one day on horseback in
the plain that extends over Assisi,

he met a leper who produced
such horror in him

that he looked away
so as not to see

and resumed his
journey on the other side,

but recalling the resolution
that he had taken..

The doctor is waiting for you.

..dismounted and
approached the leper

and lovingly
kissed his wounds.

Thus showing his
great love for Christ..

I'm afraid we
can no longer do anything.

It took too much
of your strength, Mother.

and I cannot work miracles.

But, Doctor, listen..

Yesterday, however, not only I ate
the soup without repugnance,

but even with pleasure.

Isn't it so, Mother
Marie of the Incarnation?

What your Reverence
says is true.

I feel much better than
in my last crisis.

When the storm breaks ..

I'm sure I'll rest.

I meant only that we'd better
discontinue the medication

and let nature take its course,
with no more struggling against the disease.

Try to relax and not to move.

May God preserve you, my Mother!

To Him I give my healing or dying

According to His will.

I'm sorry I thought aloud in front
of the Reverend Mother, Prioress.

Do not regret anything. If you have
attended more houses like this,

you'll know that there are two kinds
of religious able to die peacefully:

the very holy and mediocre.

It is very painful to have
to show myself like this,

cared for like a drowned
just out of the water.

If it were not for my legs,
numb and lifeless,

I'd not believe to be in danger.

Mother Marie.

How many days of life
has Mr. Javelinot calculated?

Excuse me, your Reverence,

but he thinks that it is
not even a matter of days.

My God, I've reached the end.

Go find Blanche.
- Bring her, Sister St. Augustine.

It was my understanding, Mother, that
your anxiety had subsided tonight.

It was a drowsiness of the soul.

So I did not feel like I was dying.

Now, nothing distracts me from death.

I'm alone, Mother, all alone,

without any consolation.

I'm alone..

and I am scared.

Get up daughter,
and don't look at me like that.

There is nothing unusual
before your eyes.

Do not leave me, Mother.

My daughter..

Why did you choose to be called

Blanche of the Agony of Christ?

I do not know, Mother.
It was like an impulse.

Of all the moments of the
life of Our Lord,

I wish I had been with him just

when he was alone and
abandoned in Gethsemane.

Of all my daughters, you're the
last one who has arrived.

The most beloved of my heart.

The more helpless and threatened.

To avert this threat,
I would have given my poor life.

Now, I can not give more than my death.

A poor death!

Mother Marie of the Incarnation!
- Yes, Reverend Mother?

I was the one who introduced
into this house..

Sister Blanche of the
Agony of Christ.

I'm responsible for her.

I must delegate this responsibility
before someone else takes my office.

Mother Marie!

In the name of Holy Obedience..

l entrust to you Sister Blanche
of the Agony of Christ..

here present.

You will answer me
for her before God.

Yes, Mother.

Again these detestable beans!

They say that speculators
rationed the flour,

and that they won't have bread in Paris

Oh, finally the iron is here!
They've fixed it already.

Look how they have
strengthened the handle.

We shan't hear Sr. Jeanne
of the Divine Infancy

scream while blowing her fingers,"How
can one iron with such a piece of junk!"

Hilarious.

I bite my tongue to keep from laughing.
When she says.. - Constance!

Are not you ashamed to talk like
that when our Mother is dying?

My God, sister. In the Carmel,
death is a ceremony like any other.

The last on earth before the
great processions of Paradise.

Have you not ever had fear of death?
- Life has always seemed so much fun!

Aren't you afraid God may get tired

one day of so much good humor and say
to you as to St. Angela of Foligno:

"Love is not always joy?"

Sister Blanche, I cannot help believing
that you wanted to hurt me on purpose.

No, you're wrong. I did it
because of envy.

You envy me?
How strange.

You envy me when I deserve to be flogged

to speak so lightly of the
death of our Rev. Mother.

Sister Blanche:

Let us offer our two poor lives
for that of her Reverence.

But what I have to do in this comedy?
Leave that silly board and answer me!

Sister Blanche, now
you're upset with me.

How can you believe that our
lives can save another's life?

You're as proud as hell!

That's horrible!
Horrible!

Stop, stop! Let's stop
ringing the bells!

There's too much haste,
I have not died yet.

Calm down, Mother, they're
not ringing any bell.

It's my poor ears that are
playing outbursts.

Have you summoned the community?

The ceremony, to which your
Reverence is referring, can wait.

Yes, until I am good for nothing.
But look, look!

How can I show this face to my daughters?
- But, Mother, do not worry about us.

Do not worry about
anything other than God.

Who am I,
miserable me, to care for him?

Let Him worry about me!
- Your Reverence is delirious.

Watch out for the horses!

Close all doors, quick!
Oh, too late!

Peace, Mother!
- What do you mean?

Peace, peace! Are you blind?

Don't you see the war
and blood everywhere?

Mother Marie! Mother Marie!
- Yes, Mother?

I've just seen our chapel empty
and desecrated.

The altar split in two..

straw and blood on the tiles.

Oh, God is abandoning us!
God is repudiating us!

I beg you say nothing that might..
- Say nothing, say nothing! Why nothing?

Sr. Elisabeth, close the window!

What matters what I say! Anguish..

is stuck to my skin as a mask of wax.

If I could tear it with my fingernails!

Tell the sisters that today
they will not see the Rev. Mother.

At six recreation, as usual.

No, Mother Marie of the
Incarnation: I order you..

Sr. Elisabeth, you are not
going to faint like a little girl?

Get on your knees and pray.
There's nothing else we can do.

Sr. Blanche! Sr. Blanche, come!
Take off the apron.

Sisters, our Mother has
appeared before God.

Sr. Catherine, intone
the Salve Regina..

I'd never have thought that an election
in Carmel would take so long.

They must be discussing as much
as in the National Assembly.

It's a difficult election. Things are
becoming worse for religion.

I bet on Mother Marie
of the Incarnation,

I've prayed for her election.

You always think that God will decide
according to your tastes. - And why not?

I also hope they elect Mother Marie,
as she is the most worthy of all.

I proclaim elected as
prioress of the Carmel,

Mother Therese of St. Augustine.

Our help is in the
Name of the Lord.

Who created
heaven and earth.

God be praised.
- May He be praised.

Sr. Lucie!
- Whom have they elected?

Mother Therese of St. Augustine.
- God be praised!

Tell her Reverence the Commissioner
is here and he is getting impatient.

Sister Lucie, here are the letters
for the Commissioner.

Tell him that the Reverend
Mother is waiting in the parlor.

Mr. Commissioner, I apologize
if I made you wait,

but an election is always more
complicated and longer than expected.

And since when, ma'am,
you vote in convents?

Since ever, I imagine,
or otherwise, for centuries;

this shows that we are
not as reactionary as they say.

My name is Mother
Therese of St. Augustine.

And is it you whom they
elected prioress?

Yes, in fact, not what I expected.

Are you a foreigner?

In our homes there is no foreigner.
We are all sisters.

Oh, sure. Equality,
fraternity and freedom.

We're here freely.

I've sent you the list not only
of the goods of the community,

but also of the endowments
of the religious.

Do you want to proceed
with any verification?

No, ma'am, your word
and signature are enough.

But it is my duty to warn you that
you have only the usufruct

of these assets, which now
belong to the nation.

Citizen, bring these documents
to the municipality.

Madam.

It seems, in France
and even in this city

the bloodthirsty and rioters
are the majority. I am not such.

So, facilitate my work.

Rightly or wrongly, people think
that the monasteries are home

of profiteers and traitors.

As for me, I have the duty to
follow the orders from Paris.

In this situation, the slightest
imprudence on your part

could be fatal.

Your recommendations are
consistent with my main concern.

Thank you very much, Commissioner.

Father, I am Chevalier de la Force.
Help me to hide.

Come in, quickly.

Here they will not find you.

They have been following me for a mile.
- You can sleep here.

Thanks, but I am in a great hurry.
They expect me in Vermont before dawn.

I must reach the army of the princes and
would like to see my sister immediately.

I am only the chaplain. We'll
have to ask the Mother Prioress.

Luckily, the night office is not over.
Come with me.

Mr. Chevalier de La Force wants to
see his sister. He's leaving France.

He cannot wait until morning.

But they'll accuse us of hosting fugitives.

Only you, Mother, can decide.
But you must decide quickly.

Under the rule, I have no
right to deny a religious

to see her brother, even less
if she might not see him again.

Take him to the parlor.

Accompany Sr. Blanche
to the parlor.

What fright you gave me.

What does this visit in the
middle of the night mean?

How is our Father?

He entrusted me with a message for you.

He says that here you're not safe.

Maybe you're right,
but I feel safe.

And that's enough for me.

Blanche, we just have a few minutes.

Only from abroad one
can defend the King.

That is why I'm leaving.
Do not get your hopes up.

The revolution will not spare anything
that it has decided to destroy.

And you advise me to flee from danger,
while you are going to meet it?

Blanche, I beg you,
do not act like a child.

The habit you wear is not
a defense, on the contrary.

Mr. Chevalier.

This habit is a uniform
on a battlefield.

And the Carmel is a fortress that
prepares itself to support an assault.

But you, my daughter, as long as you
have not pronounced your vows

are free to go.
- Please, Mother, I'm staying.

I want you to think of myself
as a comrade in arms.

We will both fight,
each in his way.

And mine has risks and
dangers, like yours.

So, farewell little sister.

Our father will be very proud of you.

Now we're all bound to the same destiny.

Who knows?

I've been proud, I will be punished.

Citizen, no passage.

What's happening?
- Warn the Prioress immediately.

The whole community
shall meet in the chapel.

Mother Mary, we must
expect an inspection.

You stay at the cloister door.

And when those men come
to ask to enter, demand, above all

to see the inspection order.
Do not oppose any resistance,

but do not separate from them.

Thanks be to God,
Mr. de La Force is far away.

Rev. Mother,
Sr. Blanche is not there.

Go see in her cell.

If she's tired, tell her I give
her permission to rest.

Put the veil.

Christ, have mercy on us.
- Christ, have mercy on us

Lord, have mercy on us.
- Lord, have mercy on us.

God, the Father of heaven!
- Have mercy on us!

God, the Son, the Redeemer of the world!
- Have mercy on us!

God, the Holy Spirit!
- Have mercy on us!

Holy Mary! - Pray for us!
Holy Mother of God! - Pray for us!

Saint Michael! - Pray for us!
Saint Gabriel! - Pray for us!

Saint Stephen! - Pray for us!
Saint Lawrence! - Pray for us!

Saint Vincent! - Pray for us!
Saint Sylvester! - Pray for us!

Saint Gregory! - Pray for us!
Saint Ambrose! - Pray for us!

Who is she?

Could we end once with this masquerade?

Take off the veil, Sr. Constance.

Citizen..

How long have you been
locked in this house?

I'm very happy to be in
here, as if I were at home.

I don't feel locked up at all,
Mr. Commissioner.

And why does one accept
to live behind bars?

To know God, love Him,
and serve Him,

and thus merit eternal happiness,
Mr. Commissioner.

Ah, I see you know
the lesson by heart.

We know it with certainty.

Last night they had
concealed a suspect.

And he must show up somewhere.

Come, citizen, do not be afraid.
I'm here only to provide

the protection of the law.

Citizen!

I order you to tell me how long ago
this girl has been held here.

I think you should ask herself.

She seems to have
lost the use of the word.

You don't think it was
you who scared her?

This girl will come to explain
herself in front of the municipality.

A registration permit does not
give you rights over people.

This girl will leave from
here only by her own will.

Sr. Blanche.
- I forbid you to continue!

Here I represent the Reverend Prioress
and I will not take orders from you.

Citizen, remind her that we have
a machine to cut the breath..

Shut up.

Young Citizen, say just a word..

and we'll immediately free you from

those who have not even feared
to abuse the name of "Mother".

Certainly to submit is better.

You should not be afraid.

Since you are now under
the protection of the law.

First of all, she is under mine.

And I won't let you abuse
the terror of a child.

You should also know, Commissioner, that
for the poorest daughters of the Carmel

honor is stronger than fear.

I'll have to give account to
the municipality.

It is to your conscience that
you should give account first.

As long as there are
beings like you,

there'll be no respite for the patriots.

This house is a Bastille.

And we'll destroy it,

like the other.

You must also destroy us, to the last,

because where there is a daughter
of St. Therese, there is a Carmel.

Follow me, citizen.

What a fool I am!

That conversation was to make
us forget our mission.

I know where the fugitive is hiding.
- Where, citizen Commissioner?

All the nuns here wear black veils.

And I bet that the fugitive
is there in the middle,

he also with his veil,
reciting the Our Father.

From sudden and unprovided death!
-Deliver us, O Lord.

From the snares of the devil!
- Deliver us, O Lord.

From anger, hatred..

In the name of law:

I order you to immediately
remove your veils

and look at me with
your face uncovered.

I told you that you must
remove those veils.

My daughters, take off your veils.

Take off your veil, Sr. Jeanne.

My daughters, wait in the cloister.

I ask you to vote to decide whether we
should allow them to pronounce the vows,

or we should return them to the world.

The new French laws
formally ban monastic vows.

If two novices pronounced them,
it would be a challenge.

I do not intend to challenge anyone.

I've done everything possible to
avoid colliding with the Commissioner,

but I can not go so far as to ask
permission to observe the rule.

The ceremony will be secret,
behind closed doors.

For Sr. Constance, no problem.

For Sr. Blanche, it is not so simple.
- I agree.

Sr. Blanche took refuge here for
the rule to protect her and keep her,

when it is we who must protect the rule.

Excuse me, Reverend Mother.
I would plead with the Council

in favor of Sr. Blanche
of the Agony of Christ.

I know the risks
of her character,

but I feel it would break
a promise to the dead

if we rejected her and
I could not watch over her.

Let's vote.

Three votes against.

Someone go find
Sr. Blanche of the Agony of Christ.

I'm going, Mother.

Sister Blanche!

My daughter,

Neither you nor we hope more than you

may be freed here from
your mortal anguish.

The Council has decided to return you
to the protection of your father.

No doubt that in better times
or later, who knows..

Answer me honestly.

Do you think I will hurt you
by returning you to the world?

Yes, you'll hurt me.

Not even I expect to
overcome my weakness.

No, I don't expect it any more.

But this house is the
only place in the world

where I can offer it to our Lord,

as a patient offers his wounds.

I believe, Mother,

that maybe God
wanted me a coward

as He wanted the others good or stupid.

All right, so be it.

Sister Blanche of the Agony of Christ,

remain a Carmelite.

I will never leave you.
Do you understand me?

Never.

Sacrifice to God the
glory of the world.

Is it by your own will and by choice

that you pronounce these solemn vows?
- Yes.

Do you intend to persevere until death?
- Yes.

And just for the love of our Lord?

Yes, by the grace of God and
the prayers of my sisters.

May God, who has guided you to us,
lead you until the the end.

Sacrifice to God the
glory of the world.

I am not leaving you,
but I am obliged to hide.

I refused to swear
allegiance to the Constitution.

I'm an outcast.

Now, for you,
I'm out of the law.

But if a fish can not live out of water,

a Christian lives very
well outside the law.

We will manage the same,
with some precautions.

Andr� will be our contact.

In the affairs of this world,

when you lose all
hope of reconciliation,

the last resort is strength.

In God's affairs,

the last resort is the sacrifice
of the consecrated souls.

Sister, pray for me.
- Sister, pray for me.

Sister, pray for me.
- Sister, pray for me.

Sister, pray for me.

Mother, pray for me.

Concern does not make you
lose your appetite, Sr. Constance.

It is the fourth apple
that I see you eat.

Really, at this rate the
basket will not be filled.

Why do we need so many provisions?

Maybe we die before these apples rot.

It is not fixed that we die.

I have no hurry to die, Sr. Constance.
- Ah, neither do I.

But if we let the Lord
decide about our lives,

what's the use of
worrying about what to eat?

We may never find another
opportunity to be gluttonous.

Yours is a curious way of
preparing for martyrdom.

On the contrary, it's appropriate.

Before facing the lions in the
arena, to be devoured,

I want at least to suppress my hunger.

Well, Sr. Constance,
the lions will surely be very grateful.

Moreover, their food will be more nutritious.

Soldiers!

Come and see you too,
Sr. Anne of Jesus.

What are they singing?

It must be a new song,
I've never heard it.

It's a terrible song.
- Yes, but it is magnificent.

Down from the ladder
immediately.

You have violated claustration.
- Forgive us, Mother.

What was the matter with you?

I had a crazy idea, Mother: I have a
brother in the national army,

and I thought he was marching
with them, and that I could see him.

And you, Sr. Constance?

Oh Mother, I could not
resist. I love parades.

I'm glad of your visit, Commissioner,

so I can protest directly to you.

Protest, madam, and why?

Because we have been
deprived of our Chaplain.

It's absurd to think that
a peaceful man like him

could be considered dangerous

and be made an outlaw.

Madam, I'm afraid you have not
understood your own situation

and the danger you are facing.

What harm do we do?

It is not the harm you do,
but that which is attributed to you.

Have not you heard that the
Prussians are marching on Verdun?

And maybe they'll be here in
three days, and in five in Paris.

Across France volunteers are enrolled.

The people feel betrayed.
And they are suspicious everywhere.

On Sunday, in Paris,

there was a massacre in the prison.

Oh God! Are you sure?

Yes, I am.

There is here among you,
a young woman..

whose name is Sr. Anne of Jesus.

Yes. What do you want from her?

She had a brother in the army of
the Rhine, he was killed in battle.

They found a letter to his sister.
So I heard.

At last you'll be convinced, Mr.
Commissioner, that we are good patriots.

We want peace and the
protection of the law.

Ah, madam, if it were only that.

Why? What else is there?

When things go wrong in the
country, someone is to blame.

So, why not you?

Dear daughters,

death, truncating all the
affections, is always cruel.

And violent death, especially if the
cause is a human being,

is even more cruel.

Our country is unhinged by
the invasion and the civil war.

Our relatives are divided
into different fields.

Some have emigrated brothers and
cousins who fight for the Princes.

others have relatives
in the national armies.

Men are fighting. Let us condemn
neither one nor the other.

We are not judges,
but only pleaders.

May the civil war never
enter into our hearts.

Our help is in the name of the Lord,

who made Heaven and Earth.

Open up, open up immediately!

I thought I wouldn't escape!
- What happened?

There's a crowd in the church
square, and they are furious.

The baker of Meaux has been reported.

Mother Marie, gather
them all in the chapel.

Do not be afraid, you will
remain here with us.

And the Chaplain?
- They didn't find him.

He was not in the hideout
when they searched,

but they arrested the baker.

And when they saw me arrive
for the bread, they grew furious.

If you allow me, I will go to the
door to talk to these people.

No, my daughter, one doesn't
talk to an out-of-control crowd.

Courage, my daughters!

It's not the first time that they invade
and pillage churches and monasteries.

It often happens during wars.

Silence! Citizens! Citizens!

The French army has obtained
a great victory at Valmy.

And in Paris, the Republic
has been proclaimed!

It is more than twenty years since
you have set foot outside this house.

And now you go to Paris.

Are you even sure you can
come back?

We are concerned for the
life of your Reverence.

It is necessary that somebody
should go to get recognition.

I feel that the circle is closing
every day more about us.

In a big city a group of seventeen
women may be overlooked.

Why not take the risk of
our vocation to the end?

Why don't we stay all in
this house, with our habit..

observing the holy rule,
and die, if necessary, as Carmelites.

Mother Marie, what I
want is to protect the Carmel.

What would all of us perishing profit,
if the Carmel perish with us?

I'll say farewell to my daughters.

Careful, Sr. Constance,
or you will burn St. Denise.

Is not it enough that they cut his head?

It would be a shame. He looks
so cute with his head in his hands.

It's outrageous.

Why portray our great St. Teresa
with a sword in her heart?

The founder of Carmel died
quietly in her bed, I know.

Sr. Blanche, why are
you shocked? It is a symbol.

St. Teresa died of love for God,
so an angel grabs the sword.

I do not think God
would send his angels..

to kill those who love Him.

But if God sent His Son to
the terrible sacrifice of the cross.

And from that first Good Friday there
is no greater honor for a Christian

than to be sent to
the gallows like Christ.

You said it well, Mother.
"It's an honor."

And as for us, Carmelites, we shouldn't
run after honors in any case.

When a great king,
before the whole court,

makes a sign to the maid
to sit together to him,

on his throne of glory,

it is preferable that she should believe
neither her eyes nor her ears,

and continue cleaning the furniture.

In my absence, to Mother Marie,
who has my confidence,

I delegate my authority.
Obey her as myself.

Mother, come back soon to us.

I hope with all my heart.
God help you, my daughter.

Who is it
- I'm Andr�.

The Chaplain has found
another hiding place.

He sent me to tell you that he'll
celebrate the office of Good Friday

tomorrow at midnight in Albetier's barn.
- Thanks, dear.

All precautions have been taken.

We expect to lead you in
groups of two or three.

Thank you.
- Good night, Mother.

See you tomorrow.
- See you tomorrow.

Friend, whereto art thou come?

Dost thou betray the Son of man
with a kiss,

your Teacher and your Lord?

Then they rushed
impetuously upon Him

And the soldiers, full of rage
and unbridled fury,

those Barbarians,
seeing Him in their power,

unleashed all their
fury upon Him.

It's funny, we have come
together to the Carmel.

I chose the name of a martyr,
but yours is the most beautiful.

It's the very name of the
martyrdom of our Lord.

Today it's like His feast day, I say.

Sr. Blanche, we will not part any more.

Sr. Constance,

I think it's easier to talk
here in the dark.

I too would like not to part with you.

But I am afraid.

And I am ashamed to be afraid.

But afraid of what, sister?

Afraid of death,

of what is after death.

One day you told me,

fear is an illusion of the
devil of which God can free us.

Sometimes I think..

that He does not want to free me.

But how can you think that
God does not love you?

Even your name, and all that you are

must remind God of the
terrible moment..

when His own Son
felt abandoned.

Come.

Last night,

you attended a secret meeting..

under the direction of a recusant
priest, pursued by the law.

In the Albetier barn, to be exact.

Answer: yes or no.
- Yes.

And I hold myself responsible
for that meeting,

It's I who organized it.
And my sisters did nothing but obey.

That's enough.

All disobeyed the law.

All exposed themselves
to suffer its rigor.

We went to venerate the Cross on
which our Master suffered His martyrdom.

So much the better if we
suffer or even die for that.

In times like these to die is nothing.

To live is nothing.
Is this what you mean?

In fact, only death counts,

when life is devalued by fear
even to the ridiculous

and is worth less than your paper money.

These words may cost you dearly.

I do not think that your comrades
approve your insolence.

What's he saying?

I want to know..

if you all agree in disobeying the law..

and insulting a
representative of the people.

You should know that nothing can
separate us from Mother Marie.

It is to her that we must obey.

We'll see.

First:

You have 24 hours to gather your things

and to procure yourselves clothes,
other than these ridiculous rags.

Second:

Tomorrow morning you'll be
evicted from this site.

This house will be occupied by soldiers.

Third:

From now on, all community
life is prohibited to you,

and any contact with recusant priests.

And you are forbidden to live more than
two or three in the same house.

You will all present yourselves
to the municipality

to give your names and
your new addresses.

And if this is not enough,
the strict application of the law

will surely be able to end
your obstinacy and fanaticism

The regime aims to suppress
religion and disperse the monasteries.

I think that the entire
community should respond

by solemnly pronouncing
the vow of martyrdom.

So that France may
continue to be Christian,

the daughters of Carmel
offer their own blood.

What do you think, sisters?

The disadvantage of these extraordinary
vows is that they can divide the spirits,

and oppose conscience.

And just as we want to affirm
the unity of our community.

The opposition of only one of you
would make me give up my idea.

Why do not we decide
with a secret ballot?

Sr. Anne de Jesus.

Sure there will be a vote against.

There's a black ball.

Forget the vow
of martyrdom.

I did it.
Here is my white ball.

But now I agree with all
the others, and desire..

I also want to pronounce
this vow, I beg you,

in the name of the Lord.

It's certainly a sign from
God that we all agree.

I, Constance of St. Denis,
make the vow of martyrdom.

I solemnly promise to God to
imitate His Son in His holy Passion,

without defending myself nor fleeing,
offering also my blood if necessary.

For the honor of the Carmel,
the exaltation of the Church,

and the salvation of the world.

I, Blanche of the Agony of Christ,
make the vow of martyrdom.

I solemnly promise to God to
imitate His Son in His holy Passion,

without defending myself nor fleeing,
offering also my blood if necessary.

For the honor of the Carmel,
the exaltation of the Church,

and the salvation of the world.

Here's the list of houses and directions.

You shall divide yourself
the sisters in groups.

Tomorrow morning,

a cart will come to help you
carry the essentials.

You will also give them
some civilian clothes.

Sister Blanche.

After the vow we've
pronounced,

God will keep us
together forever.

I know..
- What do you know?

I know that soon we shall die.
- Do not touch me!

Sister Blanche, what's the matter?
- Do not touch me!

I lied to God.

I did not expect to see you
again, at least in this world.

I can not give you any good news.

Sr. Blanche is not here.

Go, I'll catch up with you in
a moment, at the municipality.

You'll inform the municipality
of the new local distribution.

Are they all?

Citizen Lidoine is missing.

Citizen Lidoine is missing.

Mother Prioress will be
here in a moment.

And citizen La Force.

Citizen La Force.

Is she not that girl whom they called

Sr. Blanche of the
Agony of Christ?

Why the hell is she not here with you?

Where did she go?

You, who speak so well,
answer, citizen!

You do not want to answer.

So it is I who will give them the news.

One of my patrols found
this girl late at night,

wandering alone through the fields,
shaking for cold and fear.

What have you done to her?

Young citizen, you are free now.

Do you want to join those
whom you call your sisters

or return to Paris to you father?

Here's money and a pass.

Citizen Montreler.

Find more decent
clothes for the young citizen.

Mother Therese of St. Augustine
Prioress of the Carmel.

Citizen Commissioner,
everything is in order.

Citizens,
you may leave.

What happened?

The Commissioner gave her the
means to go to her father in Paris.

Her father was arrested eight
days ago and is in prison.

What should we do, she has
only ourselves in the world?

In no way we'll abandon her.

Open, it's me, Thierry.

Thierry! - Calm down, Miss.
We need you to come with us right away.

With this man?
- Yes, it's urgent.

Yesterday nobody was spared.
You must do what he says.

Citizen, Thierry's right,
Let's hurry.

He who was the Marquis de La Force.

My friend.

He who was the Marquis de La Force.
- Yes, yes, I'm coming.

Citizens Judges,

the young and curious girl with
me is the daughter of the accused.

The Republic snatched her
from the hands of the priests

who had taken her away from her father to
steep her into the depths of fanaticism.

This citizen has given up
superstition forever,

and has sworn eternal hatred
for the aristocrats and tyrants.

She proclaims her dedication
to the nation and the Republic.

She has come here to thank
her protectors and liberators.

Blanche, has the man who
accompanies you,

spoken in your name?

Is it true what he says?

No, Dad.

He lied.

Blanche!

Blanche de La Force!

The Reverend Mother sent
me to look upon you,

upon learning that
your father is in prison.

He's in prison no more.
- Is your father free?

He is dead.

He's been guillotined.

My poor daughter, you can
not stay here alone. Come with us.

You mean that with you I'll be safer?

You will run less risk than here.

No, I do not believe it.

Who will want to come to get me here?

I hurt nobody, and I want
nobody to hurt me.

Leave me in peace.
You scared me.

Go!

Sister Blanche of the Agony of Christ.

Yes, Mother?

What should I tell our Prioress?

That I do not forget her.

Sr. Blanche, listen to me well.

I'll give you an address. Remember that.

Miss Rose Ducor,
Theater of the Palais Royal.

She has been informed.
You'll be safe with her.

I'll wait for you there.

I won't go. I don't want to go.

You shall go.

I know you'll be back
with us, sister.

I have to see Miss Rose
Ducor, immediately.

Wait for her there,
she won't be long.

Even here, poor Baptiste.

You're not ashamed to make
a parody of a heinous death.

Let's hurry to laugh, that
there will be time to mourn.

Oh, Baptiste, when you will
stop taking everything so lightly?

Someone is looking for you.
She is waiting back there.

Rose, what are you doing?
- Quick, Rose, we are already late.

Oh, we have all the time!
I want to see how it ends.

Miss, I'm Blanche de La Force.
- Yes.

When I enter the theater
follow me into the dressing room.

You come to compete with me
before my theater,

and yet, you expect
that I pay you?

Yes, Miss Ducor pays with
Golden Louis.

Stand here and do not let
anyone in, not even the maid,

for at least ten minutes.

Citizen, you can not enter.

I must see Mother Marie of
the Incarnation. - She's there.

Mother Marie.

Mother..

They have arrested all our sisters

and have taken them
to Paris to try them.

Sr. Blanche, we must
reach them immediately.

O Mother, if there is any
way to save them..

I think that now I would have
the courage to risk everything.

This is not to save them,

but to fulfill the vow of
martyrdom we pronounced freely.

And we will let them die
without doing anything for them?

What matters is not to
let them die without us.

And what need have they of us to die?

To die. To die.

You only have that word in your mouth.

But, is it not enough for you the
horror of the blood already shed?

Only crime is horrible, my daughter.

But I do not want them to die.

And I do not want to die!

What's happening, Sr. Constance?

I slept under the window and
it gave me wryneck.

Oh, my poor neck is..
- No, Sr. Constance!

Excuse me, sister, it didn't occur to
me.. - Come on, be quiet, Sr. Constance.

Well, my daughters,
our first night in jail has passed.

It was the most difficult, but, as you
see, we passed it alike.

We are used to bars.

None can take away a freedom to which we
voluntarily renounced a long time ago.

Anyway, in court,
to all questions answer:

I did but obey my superiors.

It is a formal order.

I try to answer for you on earth
as I would do it before God.

With your Reverence we will
never be afraid of anything.

Be calm, do everything possible
for your lives and your souls.

Citizen, do you have anything to say?

We are the servants of God.
- The Republic does not need servants.

I am the keeper of the
soul of the country,

but you, who do not recognize the
authority of the laws,

have also attempted to attack the city.
- We are also citizens of another city.

That's enough!

You should be grateful that you
have found in this country,

which you betray, a court
that heard and judged you.

This afternoon a grave awaits you.

For having formed
counterrevolutionary caucuses;

for having had, again and again,
fanatical correspondence, and

hosted recusant priests and emigrants,

preserved liberticide writings.

are sentenced to death.

Dated on Messidor 28, the
second year of the Republic.

What does that gentleman say?

That we are condemned to death.

All?
- Yes, all.

Including Mother Marie of
the Incarnation, who is not here.

Judgment to be executed immediately.

May God receive us in His bosom.

Who knows if He will
recognize you as His own.

We have that confidence.

Because we have not offended Him.

May He forgive us our sins

as we forgive you, son.

Citizen President, I ask that
you adjourn the court.

The court is adjourned.

My daughters,

now we are at the end,

now it is only about dying.

God calls us to the throne of His glory.

It's time to fulfill the
vow of martyrdom

you have generously made and
that God has accepted today.

As for me, who didn't pronounce it,
He has given me a part.

Let's thank Him for not
having allowed the mother

to be separated from the
daughters at the time of death.

I humbly share this great gift

on behalf of our sisters
Marie of the Incarnation

and Blanche of the Agony of Christ..

I exploit their vow, though unworthy.

My daughters,
once again, for the last time,

I solemnly subject you to obedience.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the
Lord is with thee..

and blessed is the
fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary Mother of
God pray for us sinners

now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the
Lord is with thee..

Blessed art thou among women..

She who was Sr. Gabrielle.

She who was Sr. Saint Louis.

She who was Sr. Jeanne
of the Divine lnfancy.

She who was Sr. Jeanne
of the Divine lnfancy.

She who was Sr. Lucie.

I knew you would come.
You are crazy. Don't go any closer.

I don't want them to die without me.
- How does what you want matter?

God chooses and
calls whom he wants.

I've dragged my sisters to death.

If they die without me,
I will be dishonored.

Shut up! Who do you think you are?

It is not for you that your
sisters dies but for God.

What do I have in this world?

The Carmel.
You will continue it, alone.

How hard is God!

Come with me and
repeat what I say.

Our Father who art in heaven..
- Our Father who art in heaven..

Hallowed be thy name..
- Hallowed be thy name..

Thy kingdom come..
- Thy kingdom come..

Thy will be done on earth
as it is in heaven..

Thy will be done..

Thy will be done..

Thy will be done on earth
as it is in heaven..

She who was Sr. Anne of Jesus.

She who was Sr. Constance.

She who was Mother
Marie of the Incarnation.

She who was Prioress of the
Carmel of Compi�gne.