Rebel, funny or victim… How cinema took hold of the figure of the nun

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Actress Mia Threapleton stars as the nun Liesl in Wes Anderson's latest film, The Phoenician Scheme , which opens May 28. The character of the "sister" has inspired many filmmakers before her. Courtesy of TPS Productions / Focus Features
From Jacques Rivette's The Nun (1966) to Wes Anderson's latest film, the character of the "sister" continues to pique the curiosity of filmmakers. A look back at the variations of this cinematic figure, ranging from comic relief to symbol of transgression and victim of oppression.
A curious fate for Liesl, removed from the convent at the moment of taking her vows to serve her father's business interests. The nun, played by Mia Threapleton, daughter of the very famous Kate Winslet, is one of the key characters in Wes Anderson's latest film, The Phoenician Scheme , in theaters since May 28. While the character's religious identity is not really explored by the filmmaker in this film, Liesl's story is nonetheless part of a long line of films featuring "sister" figures, whose image has continued to evolve on the big screen.
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