Agnes of God

A dead newborn is found in a convent; in a young nun's room, in the wastebasket, wrapped in a bloody sheet. Sister Agnes remembers nothing. She says she did not know she was pregnant either. The court appoints a psychiatrist: Dr Livingston is to determine whether she is fit to stand trial. The mother superior wants the inquiry limited. Livingston begins talking with Agnes and the girl says something different at every session. Norman Jewison directs. Jane Fonda plays Livingston, Meg Tilly plays Agnes and Anne Bancroft the mother superior. The source is John Pielmeier's play. Meg Tilly and Anne Bancroft were nominated for Oscars for their parts. The opposition the narrative builds is between belief and explanation; the doctor is looking for a cause, the mother superior argues for the possibility of a miracle, and the film refutes neither. The structure is close to theatre; the narrative consists largely of conversations among three women. The order of the convent is shown in detail and the setting carries the narrative's closedness. The ending is left uncertain and what happened is not explained; that choice divided the reviews. Its limit is form; the stage origin is plain and some scenes are too explanatory. Who it is for: viewers who like psychological drama and films centred on acting. Who it is not for: the subject is heavy, the narrative closed, and the ending unanswered.