MovieChat Forums > Doubt (2008) Discussion > What kind of doubt she has? (Poll)

What kind of doubt she has? (Poll)

posted 11 years ago by Napok
55 replies | jump to latest

I mean the film left us with unanswered questions. And that was on purpose. Like you have to decide what fits you.

1/ Did father Brendan Flynn gave wine to the kid?

a- YES.
b- NO.

2/ Did the father Brendan Flynn molest the kid?

a- YES.
b- NO.

3/ What kind of doubt sister Aloysius Beauvier has?

a- Doubt of God.
b- Doubt the priest didn't do anything.

For me :

1/ a-
2/ b-
3/ b-

What you'll think? Share with us your opinion by answering this questions.

“ Ma vie n'est qu'un interminable effort pour échapper aux banalités de l'existence.. ”

[–] boywiththethorn 11 years ago

B,B,neither
I believe she doubts that she has done the right thing. That she has handled the situation the right way. I don't think she doubts that Father Flynn is a pederast.

[–] shaguniitb 11 years ago

I believe she doesn't doubt either God or the wrongdoing of the priest. She has doubts in the fairness of the Church.

[–] gabby_bm 11 years ago

She sits in silence and poverty, eating gristle and wearing a silly outfit while the priests are jovial, eat delicious red meat, and are liked, respected and authoritative - and only now she has such doubts about the fairness of the church?

I'm not buying it. I'm more inclined to believe she weeps at the loss of her certainty about.. well... pretty much everything.

"De gustibus non disputandum est"
#3

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] kelly-wilson 11 years ago

With respect, Infinite Rage, that is a rather condescending response.

Gabby, in my view, has rightly identified that, at the very least, the trust of the sister, in the institution in which she has so long existed, is waning.

KW.

http://mymusingsonfilm.wordpress.com/

[–] gabby_bm 11 years ago

feminist? LOL!! I guess I'll check my balls at the door next time I come in.

I was simply challenging the perception that at the end she was having doubts in the fairness of the church. I think that has been obvious for a long time and was quite obvious to me, even as a child in parochial school. I highly doubt Sr. Aloysius had a sudden epiphany about such things.

GO SEAHAWKS! WORLD CHAMPIONS!

[–] Thought_Criminal_J62377 11 years ago

Meaning you think she's still believes he's a child molester? This is why people have to apply to own a gun and pass a test to drive because we don't all have our mental faculties about us.

boywiththethorn, I don't believe for a second the filmmakers intended for you to reach that conclusion. I'm sure they're aware of several possible conclusions but I don't believe that was one of them.

She acknowledged not sleeping well in response to Sister James confiding as much. This indicates her sleeplessness is due to the same issue that's troubling Sister James. Which is guilt her role in railroading a kind, warm-hearted Priest. It's guilt over having the darkened heart that assumes the worst in people and the pride to win at all costs, even if justice is forsaken.

[–] sutikshan-dubey 10 years ago

You summed it up very well. I just watched it on TV. and Last 30 seconds were very good summary of theme of the movie. "...I have such doubts...". The way she said those words, sum it all up very well. She hated to have such doubts.
Only four actors appeared in movie, and all four got academy nomination, it speaks alot.

[–] salfaridz-sfr 10 years ago

I second your words. Those are exactly what I feel about the movie. The very few seconds during the ending reveals everything what the whole story tries to tell us. And yes, four of them does tell us the true volume of the movie. Intelligence story, brilliant team & excellent casts!

[–] tonn-frank 11 years ago

Exactly. I just saw the movie and we had that discussion ... she made the priest move to another school where he may be able to start all over again plus, she made the kid and his mother unhappy. She doubts whether her actions made the world better or worse. She has zero doubt in god/her faith or whether the priest is a pedophile.

[–] EJverh 11 years ago

1. A
2. A
3. A and B

But, I don't exclude the possibilities of No 1&2 being different. What I have no doubt about is my answer in No. 3 which is, really, the heart and soul of the film. And Streep gives you plenty of clues, if you look hard enough!

[–] SP-3 11 years ago

B
B
A

The exact opposite to yours!

Flynn was innocent in my opinion but may have had minor infringements in his past. I think he may have been gay but not a child abuser.

Sister A was provoked into her campaign by the Doubt sermon. Why? Because she carries guilt from a past transgression that has made her question her own faith.

Hearing Flynn give that sermon about doubt upset Sister A to such an extent that she became determined to oust Flynn at all costs, to preserve her tenuous grasp on her faith.

[–] Wandersong79 11 years ago

I think Flynn gave Donald wine and molested him. Sister A's doubt is about the Church; not God or Flynn's obvious guilt.

There can be only one.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] svenrufus 11 years ago

Exactly right. There can't be an answer to these questions. The film is not about who did what to whom (or not) it's about the relationship/encounters/battles between the two main characters.

There is nothing at the end but doubt, and even the nature of the doubt is in doubt. How could it be any other way in a film called Doubt? And while I got to the end and thought to myself 'I'm not sure I really got it', on reflection I'm OK with that.

Brilliantly ambiguous.

PS (edit) I watched this just after hearing about PSH's untimely death. What a great performance from a great actor. What a very sad loss. RIP

[–] koffeenkreame41-1 11 years ago

I agree, svenrufus, arguably PSH's best acting performance.

"I am the ultimate badass, you do not wanna `*beep*` wit me!"- Hudson in Aliens.

[–] jnorgle 11 years ago

If this movie is like any book I've studied in English...
bbb
Sexual abuse is a soap opera. Regular goings ons are novels.
Pretend something pithy is here.
http://i39.tinypic.com/2s8mluo.jpg

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] slgardener 11 years ago

1. A
2. A
3. A

I believe that Sister Aloysius Beauvier has doubts about the church run by corrupt men, and possibly her faith in God, because she broke down after discussing Father Flynn's promotion in his new church.

[–] Yrunvs 11 years ago

I agree. A, A, A. Faith in God because she chose to LIE to Father Flynn to obtain some indication of guilt instead of trusting that God would handle the possible wrong of Father Flynn. Sister James questioned and put emphasis on the lie. I think Sister A doubts the institution of the church, doubts her faith, doubts God because He didn't act in a timely manner.

[–] TomRean 9 years ago

Agree with this to a degree...

“In the pursuit of wrongdoing, one steps away from God... of course there is a price.”

I think she believes she has pursued wrongdoing (Father Flynn is guilty).

I think her doubt is existential... A common 'demon' that haunts the religious when evil is allowed to prosper - even within the church (or when things in ones life go 'unjustifiably' wrong). Is there a god? Has she escaped into the religious life because her husband was killed in the war in the first place? She has had experiences before with a predatory priest.

To imagine her inner dialogue... "The abyss of doubt can only be crossed by a 'leap of faith' to be(hopefully)on the other side.... But what if the leap is endless -(there is no 'god' - no 'other side') then perhaps the faithful are not leaping but eternally falling. The abyss is ubiquitous and unconquerable because it is merely the boundary of the existentially knowable". What then would be the point of upholding the honour of the church that is guided by no higher power than the human craving for it?"