Agnes of God (1985)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Norman Jewison

Writers:

John Pielmeier (play)
John Pielmeier (screenplay)

Release Date:

13 September 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

What unspeakable crime took place behind the third floor window? Only Agnes knows. And Dr. Martha Livingston is the one person who can unravel the mystery.

Plot:

When a naive novice nun is discovered with a dead newborn in her convent quarters, a court appointed psychiatrist investigates her case.

Plot Keywords:

Psychiatrist | Novice | Convent | Nun | Mother Superior

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Jane Fonda	...	Dr. Martha Livingston
Anne Bancroft	...	Mother Miriam Ruth
Meg Tilly	...	Sister Agnes
Anne Pitoniak	...	Dr. Livingston's Mother
Winston Rekert	...	Det. Langevin
Gratien Gélinas	...	Father Martineau
Guy Hoffman	...	Justice Joseph Leveau
Gabriel Arcand	...	Monsignor
Françoise Faucher	...	Eve LeClaire
Jacques Tourangeau	...	Eugene Lyon
Janine Fluet	...	Sister Marguerite
Deborah Grover	...	Sister Anne
Michele George	...	Sister Susanna
Samantha Langevin	...	Sister Jeannine
Jacqueline Blais	...	Sister David Marie

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12 | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Montréal, Québec, Canada

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Anne Pitoniak who portrays Jane Fonda's mother in Agnes of God (1985), was the original Mother Miriam Ruth when the play was first produced at Actors Theatre of Louisville.

Quotes:

Doctor Martha Livingston: Agnes, how do you feel about babies?
Sister Agnes: Oh, they frighten me; I'm afraid I'll drop them. They have a soft spot on their heads, and if you drop them so they land on their heads, they become stupid. I was dropped on MY head; that's why I don't understand things.
Doctor Martha Livingston: Like what?
Sister Agnes: Numbers! You can spend your whole life counting 'em and never reach the end.
Doctor Martha Livingston: I don't understand them, either... Do you 'spose I was dropped on my head?
Sister Agnes: [concerned] I hope not... it's a terrible thing to be dropped on your head.

Movie Connections:

References The Blues Brothers (1980)

Unforgettable Tilly Performance

A young nun is found in a convent to have given birth and then strangled the baby. An investigation ensues, but only seems to unearth more and more perplexing twists.

There is very little theology here and approaches it's subject matter in a very matter of fact way. It has the mindset that the majority of the viewers are non- religious or disgruntled ex-catholics. It portrays the church as a stubborn, age old institution that is slowly losing touch with our more modern sensibilities.

Yet, refreshingly, it also doesn't try to tear down the church with every chance it gets. There is a certain level of respect and objectivity here. The mother superior (Bancroft) is shown to be very human and multi-faceted. Her and Fonda make interesting adversaries. Their love-hate relationship is both interesting and enlightening. There is even a rare scene showing an excited young women being inducted into the sisterhood as her proud family looks on.

Fonda, with her liberated, modern women persona, seems a very obvious choice to play the no nonsense psychiatrist. She approaches the role with conviction, but her constant chain smoking seems affected and her emotionlism overwrought. I still say she is much better suited for comedy. (CAT BALLOU, NINE TO FIVE).

Bancroft is solid as usual. Yet it's Tilly that is really impressive. She portrays the innocence of her character with a incredible clarity. It is almost astounding.

The mystery unravels well and keeps you intrigued. Yet the ambiguous conclusion is a bit disappointing. The drama side fares better. It poses a few good insights and ends with a interesting perspective. The film is well done on all levels even though there is really nothing that memorable or distinctive to it (outside of Tilly's compelling performance.)