as Bishop Bartolomeo : A visiting high-ranking cleric who arrives to investigate the convent's growing chaos. Nick Offerman
as Ilario : Alessandra's father, who is more concerned with his own social standing than her happiness. A Cast of Improvisers the little hours cast
. The film gained notoriety for its "blasphemous" premise—featuring foul-mouthed nuns in rural Tuscany—and its unique production style, where the dialogue was largely improvised by a powerhouse cast of comedic veterans. The Convent Core: The Lead Trio The film centers on three nuns whose repressed lives are upended when a young man arrives at their convent. Alison Brie as Sister Alessandra : Brie plays a nun yearning for a life outside the convent walls, often daydreaming of marriage while dealing with the frustrations of monastic life. Aubrey Plaza as Sister Fernanda : Known for her deadpan delivery, Plaza portrays the most volatile and rebellious of the trio, frequently engaging in aggressive and "inappropriate" behavior. Kate Micucci as Sister Ginevra : Micucci rounds out the main group as a repressed and anxious nun who eventually undergoes a wild, drug-fueled transformation. Show more The Supporting Players The convent is overseen by a cast of veteran character actors who ground the film's absurdity with their own brand of comedy. Dave Franco as Massetto : Franco stars as a servant on the run from his master who takes refuge at the convent by pretending to be a deaf-mute gardener, unwittingly becoming the object of the nuns' collective obsession. John C. Reilly as Father Tommasso : Reilly plays the convent's well-meaning but flawed priest, who struggles with his own secret sins while trying to manage his chaotic flock. Molly Shannon as Mother Marea : As the Mother Superior, Shannon brings her signature high-energy comedy to a character trying to maintain order in an increasingly debauched environment. Fred Armisen as Bishop Bartolomeo : Armisen appears as the visiting Bishop, whose arrival forces the convent to temporarily hide their various transgressions. Show more Extended Cast & Cameos The film features several notable appearances from frequent collaborators of director Jeff Baena: Nick Offerman as Lord Bruno : The master from whom Massetto is fleeing. Jemima Kirke as Marta : A local woman who becomes entangled in the convent's drama. Adam Pally as Guard Paolo : A guard working for Lord Bruno. Paul Reiser as Ilario : A local resident. Lauren Weedman as Francesca : A woman living in the nearby village. Production Fact Sheet Detail Information Director Jeff Baena Genre Medieval Black Comedy Dialogue Style Improvised based on a 20-page treatment Filming Location Lucca and Garfagnana, Tuscany, Italy Critical Reception Generally positive, praised for ensemble chemistry Would you like to know more about the as Bishop Bartolomeo : A visiting high-ranking cleric
The film centers on three nuns living in a 14th-century Italian convent whose lives are upended by a new arrival. Alison Brie Aubrey Plaza as Sister Fernanda : Known for
The film centers on three young novitiates living in a secluded convent, each grappling with their own forms of repression and boredom.
One of the film's most unique aspects is that director Jeff Baena did not write a traditional script. Instead, he provided a detailing the plot and character beats, allowing the cast to improvise their dialogue. This approach is why the characters speak with modern American slang and profanity despite being in a meticulously researched, historically accurate 14th-century setting.