Marie Heurtin, born deaf and blind, learns to communicate with the help
of the nuns at the Larnay Institute in France.
Trailer available at: http://youtu.be/7HG-bDNEumw
MARIE’S STORY is inspired by the true story of Marie Heurtin, a 10 year-old deaf, mute and blind girl educated at the Larnay Institute near Poitiers, in France, at the end of the 19th century.
MARIE’S STORY highlights the best of the human spirit and its potential for greatness despite incredible barriers. Years before Helen Keller emerged as an icon for the deaf blind community, Sister Marguerite, portrayed with grace and patience by Isabel Carré, found in Marie Heurtin (newcomer Ariana Rivoire, herself born deaf) a young woman with emotions and aspirations, and gave her a voice with which to express both.
MARIE’S STORY recounts the courageous journey of a young nun and the lives she would change forever, confronting failures and discouragement with joyous faith and love.
The Larnay Institute was a religious convent run by “The Sisters of Wisdom” nuns, who were dedicated to the education of deaf and mute children. When Heurtin’s parents brought their daughter, Marie, to the institute she was first turned down since her blindness prevented the classic use of sign language and there seemed to be no other apparent way for the nuns to communicate with her.
The young nun Sister Marguerite volunteered to dedicate herself exclusively to the girl. The faith she deployed despite the repeated failures to break through to Marie was finally a success. In the course of time, Marie after many setbacks, became fully conversant in sign language, mastered the Braille alphabet, learned to use a typewriter, to play dominoes, to sew, knit and eventually grow into a self-sufficient young woman.
Film Movement will open Marie’s Story in New York City on May 1, 2015 at Lincoln Plaza Cinemas, followed by additional cities across the country.
France / 2014 / Drama / French with English Subtitles
94 min / 1.85:1 / Stereo and 5.1 Surround