Doubt | John Patrick Shanley, 2008
John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt is a film about faith and about uncertainty. Historically, the idea of doubt has been regarded very differently by those of faith, often both as a sin and as a virtue. Friedrich Nietzsche once wrote that “Christianity has done its utmost to close the circle and declare even doubt to be a sin.” which can be seen in the poetry of Frederick William Faber; “For right is right, since God is God, And right the day must win; To doubt would be disloyalty, To falter would be sin”. Yet others have underlined uncertainty as a necessary part of faith and understanding, including Francis Bacon who wrote that “If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties”. Just as the importance of doubt and certainty has provoked conflicting views between those of faith, here it is the cause of a war between two wills, that of Sister Aloysius Beauvier (played by Meryl Streep) and Father Brendan Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman). Sister Beauvier represents the stuffy, stricter side of the religious establishment. She is severity personified. Yet the imperial dominion she holds over the schoolchildren is now under threat from the new and more accessible Father Flynn, whose warmer approach to the kids begins to blow away her tyranny. Flynn’s approach is questioned however when a younger, timid teacher named Sister James (Amy Adams) notices he is spending a lot of time with one particular boy.
Doubt opens with Father Flynn delivering a sermon on the nature of doubt itself, pointing out that just like faith; doubt can be a unifying strength among people. This speech falls on bored ears, as the beady-eyed and ever-present Sister Beauvier prowls through the restless crowd. This is an extremely telling introduction by the director who shows us in one simple sequence the differing stances of each main character. Sister Beauvier represents the past as far as religion is concerned, she reads situations by the book and is experienced, ruthless and wily enough to take on even her superiors. Father Flynn on the other hand represents the future. Between these two juggernauts there is Sister James who represents in some way ourselves; innocent and unsure and entirely manipulable. At its lowest points Doubt exists as an effective drama but moves into something entirely different when Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman share the screen. Streep’s performance in particular is exquisite, she infuses her character with such ruthlessness that sparks appear to fly from her nostrils when the film’s final altercation commences. The most impressive thing about Doubt however is in John Patrick Shanley’s refusal to hand us any kind of resolution once the dust has settled. Ambiguity is sustained throughout, allowing us to perceive things completely differently depending on ourselves.
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