Leads seem non-assured? Sissy too stable-acting/looking

Some of it could be due to the writing and the subject matter was disturbing and controversial, so perhaps it didn't want to bombard the audience with too many un-pleasantries. I haven't seen the play, so I don't know if it is different or more detailed about Jessie's character and problems.

Yes, Jessie had resigned herself and was as composed as she could be. I would say that she knew she would have had an extremely difficult task ahead of her in explaining herself to her mother and getting her to understand how she felt. This was one of the films main themes, about coming into acceptance of how someone else feels and the decisions that they make are not necessarily due to others. Jessie didn't want her mother to feel guilt and she wasn't playing the blame game either.

I think Spacek did a better job than Bancroft, who I found quite annoying and self-conscious in her performance. Spacek was even better this same year in the black 'Crimes Of The Heart', in which she played a troubled young woman who tried a few suicide attempts and kept failing until she came to an epiphany.


Exorcist: Christ's power compels you. Cast out, unclean spirit.
Destinata:💩

I think the subject matter probably had more influence than it should have. At the time, the play was pretty controversial. There was no marketing, extremely limited release... to this dya, not many people have seen this movie. I read the play in college 10 years ago and loved it. I never knew there was a movie until i saw it on netflix one day. Ive always thought the acting was pretty great, but not perfect. It's a difficult balance to maintain. Had this movie been made today (and it wouldn't), they would both likely be nominated. Make no mistake though, even great performers are expected to "campaign" for their Oscars. It would be hard to campaign for a movie the studio doesn't even want people to see.