“Love, What Have You Done to Me?” Eros and agape in Alfred Hitchcock's I Confess

Authors

Catherine M. O'Brien, Kingston University, UKFollow

Abstract

Despite its pre-Vatican II setting, Alfred Hitchcock’s I Confess (1953) has retained a notable relevance in the twenty-first century. Although the titular act of confession is unsurprisingly significant, the diegesis actually foregrounds Matrimony and Holy Orders – two sacraments that remain under the spotlight during a tumultuous era for the Catholic Church. Alongside the traditional Hitchcockian theme of “an innocent man wrongly accused,” the plot really hinges on love – a subject that is intelligible to people of all religions and none. While examining the mise-en-scène of the director’s most Catholic film, this article offers an exploration of I Confess as a cinematic reflection on the complexities of eros and agape for both the laity and the priesthood.

Recommended Citation

O'Brien, Catherine M. (2014) "“Love, What Have You Done to Me?” Eros and agape in Alfred Hitchcock's I Confess," Journal of Religion & Film: Vol. 18: Iss. 1, Article 44.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/jrf/vol18/iss1/44