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:

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.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery

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Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original Broadway production of "Agnes of God" by playwright John Pielmeier opened at the Music Box Theater on 30th March 1982 where it ran for 599 performances until it closed on 4th September 1983.

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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

Eve LeClaire: Nobody is interested in sending a nun to prison.
Justice Joseph Leveau: We're not telling you what to decide Martha. We're not even telling you to take this.
Eugene Lyon: Is there any reason why you feel you shouldn't take it?
[Martha pauses for a long moment at the window, then turns]
Doctor Martha Livingston: Today's my birthday. I always make bad decisions on my birthday.
[the Judge, Eve and Lyon all chuckle. The Judge throws the file down on his desk towards her]
Justice Joseph Leveau: Happy birthday.

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Connections

Referenced in Norm Macdonald Has a Show: Jane Fonda (2018)

User Reviews

A movie that makes you think...

This is a superb film. It has great performances, specially from Meg Tilly, as the young nun who has fallen from grace. Neither she, the rest of the sisters, or the psychiatrist sent to investigate the case, can find a satisfactory explanation. What really impressed me about this movie is the way it confronts religious beliefs with skepticism, confrontation that, in turn, is transmitted to the viewer with all its questions. Is what happened a big lie, just the product of the imagination -or distorted faith- of a young woman?. Is it all God's plan?. If it is so, did he make a mistake?. Is it all a miracle gone wrong?

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Movie Channel [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English French Latin

Release Date:

27 September 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Agnes of God

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