It’s only fitting that the first footage from Sundance smash The Little Hours hit two days after Easter, as everybody’s ripe and ready for some blasphemy after a solid month of Lenten abstention. Director Jeff Baena (Life After Beth, Joshy) has crafted something truly fucked up and fascinating, and has found a wonderfully game cast of actresses to lead it (Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza, Kate Miccuci, Molly Shannon).
Be prepared for two minutes full of swearing nuns, sodomy jokes, witchcraft, and Dave Franco-centric orgies.
Don’t tell Aunt Esther.
This looks super funny, and it’s great that the Catholic League (remember when they could ban movies from release and shut down theaters?) has already come out and condemned it way before its theatrical release. Our only worry is that it might be a little too Your Highness instead of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, but we’re absolutely stoked to see more.
Here’s an official synopsis:
“Medieval nuns Alessandra (Alison Brie), Fernanda (Aubrey Plaza), and Ginevra (Kate Micucci) lead a simple life in their convent. Their days are spent chafing at monastic routine, spying on one another, and berating the estate’s day laborer. After a particularly vicious insult session drives the peasant away, Father Tommasso (John C. Reilly) brings on new hired hand Massetto (Dave Franco), a virile young servant forced into hiding by his angry lord. Introduced to the sisters as a deaf-mute to discourage temptation, Massetto struggles to maintain his cover as the repressed nunnery erupts in a whirlwind of pansexual horniness, substance abuse, and wicked revelry.”
The Little Hours will be screening at this year’s Independent Film Festival Boston on April 30 at the Brattle, before entering limited release on June 30.