In fact, this film is based on a drama, and the drama is fictional. As a fictional drama, the truth only exists in the author's mind. Although, I was taught to guess the true intentions in the author's mind since I was a child, but after reading some books, I have the ability to think independently and know that this is impossible. The author's ideas beyond the literal, no one is sure about except him.
The information given in this film does not convict the pastor. Although I was initially convinced by what the old nun said at the end, the priest was trying to hide it. But I am also very much in favor of the presumption of innocence that has been raised. Without evidence, it is impossible to infer guilt by reasoning. Inferring guilt is just suspicion. Doubt can only push you to find evidence to prove him or to disprove him. It is not evidence in itself. I believe the pastor is guilty, but if I were the judge, I wouldn't convict him. I think so, also has the influence of Twelve Angry Men. At this point I just thought the pastor was guilty, but couldn't be convicted, and was a little bit worried.
However, seeing a netizen's other explanation for the pastor's compromise, it feels very reasonable. In the second sermon of the pastor, the pastor mentioned that the harm of rumors is irreversible. He made concessions to the old nun, maybe just because he didn't want the old nun's investigation to generate rumors and ruin his reputation, not because he really did something wrong and was fooled by the old nun. Of course, this explanation only raises a possibility, and cannot prove that the pastor is not trying to make a fuss. I also saw a netizen who said that Hoffman himself acted as if he was innocent when he was handling the performance. What's the difference between playing an innocent character and playing a guilty charlatan pretending to be innocent? It is more unreasonable for a person to appear guilty than to reason to be guilty.
To sum up, I think the old nun has no evidence of the priest's guilt in the plot, and the plot does not tell the audience (at least me) whether the priest is guilty or not, which is in line with the title of the film - Doubt.
View more about Doubt reviews
