Agnes of God

Agnes of God is a filmed stage play, which the film cannot escape. The action takes place mainly in a convent in Canada, where a young nun has apparently killed her newborn baby. The psychologist Martha Livingston is assigned to assess the nun, Sister Agnes, and is met with friendliness by the Mother Superior, Miriam Ruth. There are no easy explanations in this case, however, as Martha soon discovers, only questions. How did Sister Agnes become pregnant in the first place? Martha rejects from the outset the possibility of a miracle, a virgin birth, but she cannot immediately find a rational explanation either. At the same time Sister Agnes is impossible to diagnose. Is she really insane, or does she have the makings of a saint? As the psychologist tries to get to the very bottom of the case, the Mother Superior adopts a less cooperative stance. She too has something to hide, but Martha does not give up and reaches a conclusion to her investigation that may solve the criminal mystery, but not the religious aspects.

Anne Bancroft is excellent as usual, in Agnes of God as the Mother Superior who is acquainted with secular life.

The film's crime plot sustains the suspense while it asks some interesting questions about religion, morality and atheism, but it offers no answers. It constantly balances between faith and rationality.