Genre: Drama/Historical
Director: Cate Shortland
Writer: Willem Mainwright
Based on the novel by Hannah Kent
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Domhnall Gleeson, Fiona Shaw, Brendan Gleeson, Katherine Langford, Natalia Dyer, Mads Mikkelsen, Matt Smith, Rupert Grint
Plot:
Agnes Magnusdottir (Jennifer Lawrence) had two accomplices who were also convicted of the crimes. Agnes and the others were sentenced to be executed by beheading. One of the convicted murderers, Sigga, had her sentence reduced because she was young and not very bright and Agnes has allegedly led her astray. Fridrik (Rupert Grint) the man who murdered one of the men, confessed to the crimes. The authorities gathered that Agnes had killed Natan Ketilsson (Matt Smith) because he had reportedly spurned her.
The District Commissioner Bjorn Blondal (Mads Mikkelsen) requested the assistance of a young priest, Assistant Reverend Thorvadur Jonsson (Domhnall Gleeson) who everyone called Toti, in a matter that involved the condemned woman, Agnes Magnusdottir. She had asked that her spiritual advisor be replaced. It was one of the last worldly rights she would have and Blondal had to see that it was granted. It was important that this murdering sinner find redemption and find the Lord. Toti who had just finished his studies was bewildered. Why would this condemned woman ask for him? And as a new priest, was he equipped to handle such an unusual and demanding task? His father, also a reverend, told him that he had no choice. It was his calling and he had the Lord to rely upon.
Since there were no adequate prisons in Iceland, it was decided that Agnes would spend her last days under the custody of a government official. Jon Jonsson (Brendan Gleeson), District Officer, was called upon to take Agnes into his home to await her execution. His wife and daughters were frightened and appalled by this turn of events, but Jon was a dedicated officer and felt it his duty to comply with the request. Agnes was brought to the farm and initially treated with great derision. Jon and Lauga (Natalia Dyer), the younger daughter, would not speak to her. Only Margret (Fiona Shaw), his wife, and Steina (Katherine Langford), his elder daughter communicated with her.
Agnes turned out to be a good servant and worked hard at the chores that Margret gave her to do. She was visited by Toti and at first thought she made a mistake because the assistant reverend was so young. He persisted, however, spurred on by his father who told him he could not abandon his responsibilities. His sermons, prayers and readings from the New Testament had no impact on Agnes. He began to just talk to her like a friend and began to know about her tragic and tumultuous life which was marked by abuse and abandonment and poverty.
Toti did his best to bring Agnes to God before her death. At the end, she could not evade the executioner. But oddly enough, it was in the last few months of her life that she shined. She impressed those around her, proved herself to be a good and faithful worker as well as a kind soul with a bright mind.
The night before the execution, the family sat together. Steina’s face was streaked with tears. The servants were huddled together. They all watched as Agnes and Toti sat together. He held her hands and whispered quietly to her. She only looked at the floor, trembling. Margret had Steina help her lift a trunk up on the bed. She took a fine wool shawl from the trunk, walked over to Agnes and put it around her shoulders. Margret took out a skirt, blouse and apron from the trunk and laid it on the bed. She asked Lauga to give her the brooch. After a slight hesitation, she gave the brooch to her mother.
Margret clasped Agnes' fingers so tightly that it hurt. Margret told Agnes that she was not a monster. They will remember her. “You’ll be all right, my girl. My girl,” Margret told her. Steina hugged her sobbing in her ear. Lauga called her name and nearly collapsed. Toti said it was time to go.
Toti knew that it was all over. He brought his horse next to Agnes’. Jon was on his horse on the other side of Agnes. A neighbor ran out and gave Toti a flask. He told Agnes to drink it, drink it all. When they arrived, Jon and another man helped Agnes down from the horse. Toti held her hand as they walked. Forty men had gathered around the platform. They stayed back. Fridrik was going first. Jon was on his knees muttering the Lord’s Prayer. Agnes told Toti she wasn’t ready. He promised not to let go of her. Then the sound of the first axe fall echoed throughout the valley.
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