Doubt (2008)
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A strict nun and a charismatic priest clash over the moral integrity of a student in a 1964 Bronx Catholic school.
The story
In 1964, at a Catholic school in the Bronx, the strict principal Sister Aloysius Beauvier becomes suspicious of the conduct of Father Brendan Flynn. After a young teacher, Sister James, notices a student—the school's only Black student—appearing distressed after a meeting with the priest, Aloysius begins to investigate. The two women of the cloth find themselves at odds as they navigate the complexities of faith, authority, and the protection of a vulnerable student. As the tension between the priest's lenient approach and the nun's rigid adherence to rules escalates, the truth behind the priest's actions remains veiled in ambiguity.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Set in 1964 in a Bronx Catholic school, the film follows Sister Aloysius, a strict principal, and Sister James, a young teacher. They become suspicious of Father Brendan Flynn after a student, Donald Miller, is seen acting strangely after meeting him. The priest claims he is protecting the boy, who is gay and faces a violent father, but Aloysius suspects a predatory relationship. After a tense confrontation where Flynn is forced to admit he knew of the boy's situation, he is pressured into resigning. Aloysius later reveals to James that she lied about her evidence to force his resignation, ultimately ending the film in a state of profound personal doubt.
- First release year
- 2008
- Runtime (minutes)
- 104
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- John Patrick Shanley
- Writers
- John Patrick Shanley · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Meryl Streep · Sister Aloysius Beauvier; Philip Seymour Hoffman · Father Brendan Flynn; Amy Adams · Sister James; Viola Davis · Mrs. Miller; Joseph Foster · Donald Miller
- Genres
- drama
- Themes
- faith vs. doubt; moral ambiguity; institutional authority; protection of the vulnerable
- Tone and mood
- tense; somber; paranoid
- Premise and plot tags
- religious drama; legal/moral conflict; historical fiction
- Source material / true-story basis
- Doubt: A Parable (2004 stage play)
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews, with critics praising the performances of the lead cast, particularly Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Viola Davis.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 79% · scale: percentage · review count: 221; Metacritic · score: 70 · scale: 100 · review count: 37
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Actress · 2009 · nomination; Academy Award · Best Supporting Actor · 2009 · nomination; Academy Award · Best Supporting Actress · 2009 · nomination; Academy Award · Best Supporting Actress · 2009 · nomination; Academy Award · Best Adapted Screenplay · 2009 · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film is based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning and Tony Award-winning stage play.; The film is dedicated to Sister Margaret McEntee, who served as a technical adviser.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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