In the Les Petites Soeurs de Marie Madeleine convent outside of Montreal, sister Agnes Devereaux (Meg Tilly) is found with a dead newborn. Dr. Martha Livingston (Jane Fonda) is sent by the prosecutors to determine her mental stability as they are reluctant to try a nun for murder. Mother Miriam Ruth (Anne Bancroft) is the leader. Agnes is delusional and refuses to accept that she gave birth.
Tilly is amazing bordering on madness. She has a wide-eyed persona that fits this character perfectly. Bancroft is solid. Fonda is bothersome. There are many ways for her character to go but she is taking the worst path. She is not pleasant. She doesn't feel like a doctor. Her strident character feels more like an argumentative social worker or an atheist lawyer. As a psychiatrist, she seems shocked by the delusion and lacks the empathy to be good at her job. Fonda's character is all wrong and she's playing it aggressively to its maximum. Then there is the main question which is left unanswered. It needs answering. This movie has a couple of great performances but also has glaring problems.
Tilly is amazing bordering on madness. She has a wide-eyed persona that fits this character perfectly. Bancroft is solid. Fonda is bothersome. There are many ways for her character to go but she is taking the worst path. She is not pleasant. She doesn't feel like a doctor. Her strident character feels more like an argumentative social worker or an atheist lawyer. As a psychiatrist, she seems shocked by the delusion and lacks the empathy to be good at her job. Fonda's character is all wrong and she's playing it aggressively to its maximum. Then there is the main question which is left unanswered. It needs answering. This movie has a couple of great performances but also has glaring problems.