Saint Maud 2021

Drama

Mystery

Horror

Runtime

84 min

Language

English

Directed by

Rose Glass

Made by

A24

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Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Saint Maud (2021). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

A nurse named Katie struggles to save a patient in her care despite a desperate attempt at CPR. Time passes, and she adopts a new identity as Maud, becoming a devoted Roman Catholic. Now working as a private palliative care nurse in a quaint seaside town in England, she is assigned to care for Amanda (Jennifer Ehle), a former dancer and choreographer from the U.S. who is facing stage four lymphoma. Amanda is embittered by her diagnosis and candidly expresses her profound fear of the oblivion that death brings.

In a twist of fate, Maud believes that she has been chosen by God to save Amanda’s soul, who has long rejected faith. Their relationship grows as Maud shares her belief in divine presence, and together they experience moments of ecstatic prayer. However, tensions rise when Maud grows wary of Amanda’s companion, Carol (Lily Frazer), who regularly visits and has a financial arrangement with Amanda for intimacy.

Determined to protect Amanda’s soul, Maud begs Carol to cease her visits, fearing for her patient’s spiritual wellbeing. Yet, during Amanda’s birthday celebration, Amanda publicly derides Maud, revealing that she tried to separate them. In a fit of anger, Maud strikes Amanda, leading to her dismissal from her caregiving position.

Feeling abandoned by God, Maud seeks solace in a local pub but finds herself ostracized. After an encounter that turns traumatic, she is haunted by memories of past failures, including the death of her patient. Her emotional turmoil deepens when she comes across Amanda’s new nurse and sees their amiable relationship, which infuriates her.

In the solitude of her rundown apartment, Maud begs for divine guidance, and feels that God is urging her to prepare for a significant act of faith. She interprets a swirling cloud formation as a holy sign. That night, adorned in a makeshift robe and clutching rosary beads, she sneaks into Amanda’s home after the new care nurse has left. There, she finds the frail Amanda in bed, who, seeking forgiveness for her earlier mockery, suggests they reminisce about their shared experience of divine presence—only to reveal that it was all a deception, and that God is just an illusion.

In horror, Maud realizes the truth and a furious confrontation ensues, culminating in her stabbing Amanda in a delirious frenzy, believing she is acting on God’s will. The next morning, in a chilling act of despair, Maud walks onto the beach, drenches herself in acetone, and prays, uttering her final words in Welsh—“Glory to God”—before igniting herself in flames. In her last agonizing moments, she envisions angelic wings as onlookers kneel in awe, yet the reality of her pain remains brutally poignant as she screams, trapped in the balance between grace and horror.

Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Saint Maud (2021) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Katie's Struggle

A nurse named Katie faces a dire situation as she desperately tries to save a patient who is in critical condition. Despite her relentless efforts at CPR, she realizes the gravity of the situation and the ultimate loss that is about to occur.

Adopting a New Identity

After the traumatic experience, Katie adopts a new identity as Maud and fully embraces her faith, becoming a devoted Roman Catholic. She relocates to a quaint seaside town in England to start anew.

Seaside Town, England

Caring for Amanda

Maud is assigned to care for Amanda, a former dancer and choreographer suffering from stage four lymphoma. Amanda's bitterness toward her diagnosis is palpable as she openly expresses her fears about death and oblivion.

Feeling Chosen by God

As Maud grows closer to Amanda, she becomes convinced that she has been chosen by God to save Amanda's soul. This belief intensifies their relationship, allowing them to share moments of ecstatic prayer and spiritual connection.

Tension with Carol

Maud becomes increasingly wary of Amanda's companion, Carol, who has a financial arrangement with Amanda. Feeling protective over Amanda's spiritual wellbeing, Maud insists that Carol must stop visiting.

Birthday Incident

During Amanda's birthday celebration, tensions explode when Amanda publicly denounces Maud, exposing her attempts to separate them. In a moment of rage, Maud strikes Amanda, leading to her dismissal from the nursing position.

Search for Solace

Feeling rejected and abandoned by God, Maud seeks comfort in a local pub. However, she finds herself ostracized and plagued by traumatic memories of past failures, particularly the death of her former patient.

Local Pub

Jealousy and Anguish

Discovering Amanda's new nurse and their friendly dynamic causes Maud to spiral deeper into jealousy and emotional turmoil. The sight of their bond infuriates her and adds to her sense of despair.

Divine Guidance

In her rundown apartment, Maud pleads for divine direction, feeling an urge to prepare for a significant act of faith. She interprets a swirling cloud formation as a holy sign, believing it is a message from God.

Confrontation with Amanda

That night, Maud sneaks into Amanda's home, hoping to confront her. In a moment of vulnerability, Amanda seeks forgiveness, only to reveal that her experience of divine presence was fabricated, shattering Maud's beliefs.

Amanda's Home

The Fatal Decision

Overcome by horror and betrayal, Maud confronts Amanda with fury, leading to a frenzied and tragic encounter. In a moment of delirium, Maud stabs Amanda, believing she is acting on God's will.

Amanda's Home

Final Moment on the Beach

The following morning, Maud walks to the beach, drenches herself in acetone, and prays fervently. As she ignites herself in flames, she utters her last words in Welsh, achieving a haunting blend of grace and horror.

Beach

Visions of Grace

In her final moments of agony, Maud envisions angelic wings, as bystanders witness her tragic act. Yet, amidst the visual splendor, the stark reality of her pain remains evident as she screams in despair.

Beach

Characters

Explore all characters from Saint Maud (2021). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Maud

Maud is a deeply complex character haunted by her past and driven by an intense sense of purpose. Her transformation from a nurse to a devout believer leads her to take drastic actions in the name of faith. Her emotional fragility combined with fervent conviction makes her a tragic figure, desperate for divine validation.

👩‍⚕️ Nurse 🙏 Devotion 😢 Fragility

Amanda

Amanda is a dying former dancer grappling with her imminent death and the emotional ramifications of her condition. Her sharp, candid demeanor reveals her fears and disillusionment with faith. Despite her rejection of belief, her interactions with Maud provoke profound spiritual crises that drive the narrative.

💃 Dancer 😤 Bitterness 🎭 Regret

Carol

Carol serves as a foil to Maud, embodying a pragmatic and intimate connection to Amanda. Her relationship with Amanda complicates Maud's sense of purpose and protective instincts, ultimately driving Maud to confront her intentions and the realities of love versus faith.

🩷 Companion 💔 Tension 🏙️ Urban Life

Setting

Learn where and when Saint Maud (2021) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

The film does not specify a particular time period but reflects contemporary issues of faith, mortality, and personal crisis. The modern setting allows the exploration of psychological and spiritual struggles that resonate with current societal concerns.

Location

quaint seaside town, England

The movie is set in a quaint seaside town in England, known for its picturesque landscapes and serene atmosphere. This setting contrasts starkly with the intense emotional turmoil experienced by the characters. The town provides a backdrop that enhances the themes of isolation and desperation in the story.

🏖️ Beach 🇬🇧 England 🎭 Dramatic Setting

Themes

Discover the main themes in Saint Maud (2021). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

⛪

Faith

Faith plays a crucial role in the story, particularly through Maud's belief that she has been chosen to save Amanda's soul. This theme explores the complexity of faith and its influence on individual actions, pushing the boundaries of morality and sanity amid personal crises.

💔

Despair

Despair is a prominent theme as both Maud and Amanda face profound suffering. Amanda's struggle with terminal illness and Maud's feelings of abandonment by God culminate in a tragic confrontation, highlighting how despair can lead to destructive actions.

🔪

Violence

The film intimately examines the theme of violence, both physical and emotional. Maud's violent outburst against Amanda marks a critical turning point, representing how mental anguish can manifest in terrifying ways, blurring the lines between devotion and madness.

Saint Maud Ending Explained

Unravel the ending of Saint Maud (2021) with our detailed explanation. Understand the final scenes, character fates, and unresolved questions.

Maud’s journey culminates in her attempting to save Amanda’s soul through an intense act of religious fanaticism. Dressed as a saint and wielding religious symbols, she confronts Amanda, who has been playing along with her faith out of boredom or fear. When Amanda begins to question her beliefs and turns into a literal demon in Maud’s eyes, Maud reacts violently and stabs her to death. This act can be seen as the culmination of her delusion—believing she is performing divine work by eradicating evil, but it may also reflect her fractured mental state. Afterward, Maud sets herself on fire on the beach, a symbol of her complete surrender to her faith and her desire for martyrdom.

The ending is deliberately ambiguous. From one perspective, Maud’s visions of divine intervention, angels, and her notion of sainthood could be interpreted as a manifestation of her mental illness and obsessive faith, blurring the line between reality and hallucination. The scene of her burning on the beach, with the image of angel wings on her back and her screaming in agony, might symbolize her belief that she is becoming a saint through suffering. However, the evidence on screen—Amanda’s body lying dead with scissors in her neck—suggests her actions are rooted in her disturbed mind rather than a divine mission. Ultimately, the film leaves it open to viewers to decide whether Maud is a true savior or a tragic and deluded figure consumed by her fanaticism.

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