Agnes of God (B+ or 3/4 stars)
In 'Agnes of God' (directed by Norman Jewison & adapted from a minimalist stage play), a newborn baby is found dead in a wastebasket in the room of Sister Agnes (Meg Tilly), a young nun in a convent outside of Montreal, Canada. She claims to have no memory of either the conception or the birth of the baby. Dr. Martha Livingston (Jane Fonda), a psychiatrist, is appointed by the courts to determine whether Agnes should stand trial for the murder of said baby. At the convent, Dr. Livingston, who is very confident of her doctorial skills, meets Mother Miriam Ruth (Anne Bancroft), a wise religious woman who wants to protect the fragile Sister Agnes from further psychological damage. And, perhaps not surprisingly, she happens to believe that this young nun is touched by the hand of God.
After winning the trust of Sister Agnes, Dr. Livingston learns about her sheltered life and her fixation on God & suffering(!). All attempts to find out who the father of the baby is prove unproductive. Throughout the investigation, Dr. Livingston & Mother Ruth are morally/spiritually against each other; only when they share cigarettes & speculate on what the saints would have smoked do they cast aside their differences & recognize their mutual concern for Sister Agnes. Dr. Livingston, who wants to find the source of Sister Agnes's agitations, puts her under hypnosis, & learns some shocking news about the nun's childhood. And when Sister Agnes relives the evening of the baby's death, both the rationality of Dr. Livingston AND the religious aptitude of Mother Miriam Ruth is forever shaken.
This film showcases the ambiguity of attitudes toward miracles in a very intense/involving way. The characters (as are we, the audience) show both the desire to "believe", as well as skepticism. I mean, why not? It's only natural. Miracles ARE exactly that ….... miracles. I think the film does a very good job setting up what happens, introducing us to the characters, giving each of them dimension, & grappling with questions about God's existence or lack thereof. I also liked that I didn't know where the plot was going. And director Norman Jewison draws out a fantastic supporting performance from Meg Tilly as Sister Agnes & 2 great character portraits from both Jane Fonda (the doctor who has put her Catholic beliefs aside) & Anne Bancroft (the worldly nun who is firm in her beliefs).
Cinematographer Sven Nykvist finds the right visual atmosphere for this type of movie. The convent, the gloomy weather, the dreary exteriors -- all stark; lending to a mood that grabs you early on & sinks into your bones. Now 'Agnes of God' does feel a bit stagey, at times. There are some hysterical moments {some good, some not so good}. And some of the religious discussions come across a tad glib. But overall, I quite liked this well-acted religious drama about the clash between faith & reason.
After winning the trust of Sister Agnes, Dr. Livingston learns about her sheltered life and her fixation on God & suffering(!). All attempts to find out who the father of the baby is prove unproductive. Throughout the investigation, Dr. Livingston & Mother Ruth are morally/spiritually against each other; only when they share cigarettes & speculate on what the saints would have smoked do they cast aside their differences & recognize their mutual concern for Sister Agnes. Dr. Livingston, who wants to find the source of Sister Agnes's agitations, puts her under hypnosis, & learns some shocking news about the nun's childhood. And when Sister Agnes relives the evening of the baby's death, both the rationality of Dr. Livingston AND the religious aptitude of Mother Miriam Ruth is forever shaken.
This film showcases the ambiguity of attitudes toward miracles in a very intense/involving way. The characters (as are we, the audience) show both the desire to "believe", as well as skepticism. I mean, why not? It's only natural. Miracles ARE exactly that ….... miracles. I think the film does a very good job setting up what happens, introducing us to the characters, giving each of them dimension, & grappling with questions about God's existence or lack thereof. I also liked that I didn't know where the plot was going. And director Norman Jewison draws out a fantastic supporting performance from Meg Tilly as Sister Agnes & 2 great character portraits from both Jane Fonda (the doctor who has put her Catholic beliefs aside) & Anne Bancroft (the worldly nun who is firm in her beliefs).
Cinematographer Sven Nykvist finds the right visual atmosphere for this type of movie. The convent, the gloomy weather, the dreary exteriors -- all stark; lending to a mood that grabs you early on & sinks into your bones. Now 'Agnes of God' does feel a bit stagey, at times. There are some hysterical moments {some good, some not so good}. And some of the religious discussions come across a tad glib. But overall, I quite liked this well-acted religious drama about the clash between faith & reason.