Agnes of God

Play trailer

Agnes of God

PG-13

1985

1h 39m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

41%

Tomatometer

29 Reviews

55%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Dr. Martha Livingston (Jane Fonda) is a court-appointed psychiatrist sent to evaluate Sister Agnes (Meg Tilly), a young nun whose infant has been found strangled. With Agnes claiming a virgin conception and having no memory of giving birth, Livingston must distinguish between the lies and the nun's perception-altering faith. Complicating her investigation, Livingston continually clashes with the overbearing Mother Miriam Ruth (Anne Bancroft), who insists that Livingston leave Agnes alone.

Bob Thomas

Associated Press

Jul 25, 2019

Rich characters all. But their interplay is not always convincing. And when the mystery is finally solved, it is no great revelation.

Go to Full Review

Paul Attanasio

Washington Post

Jan 4, 2018

What "Agnes of God" needed was a director like David "Scanners" Cronenberg, the Bergman of blood, who would compose a fantasia upon it, drag it down to its B-movie roots.

Go to Full Review

Richard Corliss

TIME Magazine

May 8, 2013

All three stars do smart, honorable work.

Go to Full Review

Justine Smith

Vague Visages

Jun 6, 2024

The beauty of the film is that she transcends the victim narrative...

Go to Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

May 2, 2021

2/4

...an excessively deliberate endeavor...

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Albus S

Feb 17, 2019

While AGNES OF GOD is an excellent film . The convoluted extraordinary , intense source material really gets under ones/my skin. Meg Tilly plays a young nun who secretly gives birth to a baby; the child's body is later found strangled to death. Court-appointed psychiatrist Jane Fonda is sent to the convent to investigate, a task made difficult by the weathervane behavior of mother superior Anne Bancroft. To draw out Tilly, who remembers nothing of the birth, Fonda suggests that hypnosis is called for. Playwright Pielmeier poses many questions--is Tilly a pure-and-simple murderess, or was there something "divine" in her act?--but offers frustratingly few answers. It is Meg Tilly who makes the movie live. Her performance, which works on both realistic and symbolic levels, allows you to believe in the story. Psychiatrist Jane Fonda and mother superior Anne Bancroft round out the excellent acting. All three stars do smart, honorable work. Controversial religion themed story worth seeing; based on stage success. Just be ready to brace yourself this was a powerful film dealing with innocence and guilt and faith versus skepticism in a wholly believable manner.

See more

Han R

Feb 1, 2018

Some strong performances, but not much else.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Norman Jewison

Director

Jane Fonda

Dr. Martha Livingston

Meg Tilly

Sister Agnes

Anne Bancroft

Mother Miriam Ruth

Anne Pitoniak

Dr. Livingston's Mother

Winston Rekert

Detective Langevin

Poetic Justice

35%

83%

Poetic Justice

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Poetic Justice

10

63%

48%

10

Watchlist

Shampoo

75%

53%

Shampoo

Watchlist

Only When I Laugh

63%

60%

Only When I Laugh

Watchlist

The Ploughman's Lunch

%

41%

The Ploughman's Lunch

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Dr. Martha Livingston (Jane Fonda) is a court-appointed psychiatrist sent to evaluate Sister Agnes (Meg Tilly), a young nun whose infant has been found strangled. With Agnes claiming a virgin conception and having no memory of giving birth, Livingston must distinguish between the lies and the nun's perception-altering faith. Complicating her investigation, Livingston continually clashes with the overbearing Mother Miriam Ruth (Anne Bancroft), who insists that Livingston leave Agnes alone.

Director: Norman Jewison
Producer: Patrick J. Palmer, Norman Jewison
Screenwriter: John Pielmeier
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation, Delphi IV Productions
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 13, 1985, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $25.6M
Runtime: 1h 39m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings