Agnes of God (1985)

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

Director:

Norman Jewison

Writers:

John Pielmeier (screenplay), John Pielmeier (play)

Stars:

Jane Fonda, Anne Bancroft, Meg Tilly

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jane Fonda	...	Doctor Martha Livingston
Anne Bancroft	...	Mother Miriam Ruth
Meg Tilly	...	Sister Agnes
Anne Pitoniak	...	Dr. Livingston's Mother
Winston Rekert	...	Detective Langevin
Gratien Gélinas	...	Father Martineau
Guy Hoffmann	...	Justice Joseph Leveau (as Guy Hoffman)
Gabriel Arcand	...	Monsignor
Françoise Faucher	...	Eve LeClaire
Jacques Tourangeau	...	Eugène Lyon
Janine Fluet	...	Sister Marguerite
Deborah Grover	...	Sister Anne
Michele George	...	Sister Susanna
Samantha Langevin	...	Sister Jeannine
Jacqueline Blais	...	Sister David Marie

Storyline

When a dead newborn is found, wrapped in bloody sheets, in the bedroom wastebasket of a young novitiate, psychiatrist Martha Livingston is called in to determine if the seemingly innocent novice, who knows nothing of sex or birth, is competent enough to stand trial for the murder of the baby. While searching for the answer that her supervisors want, Dr. Livingston finds herself inevitably drawn into searching for the truth about the baby's conception and death. Despite the lack of cooperation that she receives from her own organization and the church itself, she eventually discovers more than she may have bargained for.

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Plot Keywords:

watching tv | reference to the hindenburg | psychiatrist | novice | convent | 

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Taglines:

That night, murder wasn't the only sin.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Movie Channel [United States]

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English French Latin

Release Date:

27 September 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Agnes de Dios

Filming Locations:

Rockwood Academy - 477 Main Street South, Rockwood, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$221,552, 15 September 1985

Gross USA:

$25,627,836

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$25,627,836

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Delphi IV Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Built prior to shooting, the graveyard, crypt, gazebo and vegetable gardens all became part of cinematographer Sven Nykvist's vast visual resources. The director of photography said he approached 'Agnes of God' as if it were shot in black and white. This was necessary, he said, no, only because of the lack of color in the nuns' costumes, but because of the lack of color in the Canadian landscape, which very much reminded him of Sweden.

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Goofs

During the most profound scene where Agnes receives the stigmata, the audio boom is visible for at least five seconds.

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Quotes

Sister Agnes: As much as Mother Miriam loves me?

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Connections

Referenced in The Directors: The Films of Norman Jewison (1999)

User Reviews

Fairly good psychological drama

In one of her best performances, Jane Fonda plays a psychiatrist who is assigned to deal with a case involving a naive young nun(played by Meg Tilly) who allegedly gave birth to a baby and murdered it in the convent.

While slow and gimmicky at times, the acting and story are enough to keep the film worth watching.

Anne Bancroft also gives a very good performance as the Mother Superior at the convent who is highly skeptical of Fonda's character and profession.

Generally worthwhile.