Agnes of God (1985)

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:

The original Broadway production of "Agnes of God" by John Pielmeier opened at the Music Box Theater on March 30, 1982, ran for 599 performances and was nominated for two 1982 Tony Awards for acting.

Quotes:

Doctor Martha Livingston: Suppose the saints would have smoked if tobacco'd been popular back then?
Mother Miriam Ruth: Undoubtably. Not the ascetics, of course, but, well, St. Thomas More.
Doctor Martha Livingston: Long, thin, and filtered!
Mother Miriam Ruth: St. Ignatius would smoke cigars and then stub them out on the soles of his bare feet. And of course all of the apostles?
Doctor Martha Livingston: Hand rolled.
Mother Miriam Ruth: Even Christ would partake socially.
Doctor Martha Livingston: St. Peter?
Mother Miriam Ruth: Pipe!
Doctor Martha Livingston: Right!
Mother Miriam Ruth: Mary Magdalene?
[...]

Movie Connections:

References The Blues Brothers (1980)

Fascinating character piece

In the world of movies in the eighties, Agnes of God is a true wonder : an intelligent film that carries more than one idea AND has its funny moments, beautiful cinematography, incredible casting, the most intense dialogue and some heavy drama. Jane Fonda has never been better. She builds a sensitive, complex character who has to deal with much more than she was originally willing for (her childhood, her faith, her identity, her age, Anne Bancroft as a controlling, protective nun, Meg Tilly as a supposed murderess of her own baby, and also a nun). The three actresses play beautifully together, immersed in a magnificent wintery Canadian landscape. This is American cinema at its best.