Angel Baby

Angel Baby loses her ability to speak at age eight, shaping her family's life in the rural American South. Her mother catches her kissing Hoke and chases him away, signaling early tensions between desire, faith, and judgment that shadow Angel's world.

The next day, Angel is brought to a tent revival where Paul Strand preaches. He heals her muteness, instructing her to say 'God' and then 'Lord God' followed by a prayer of thanks.

Believing that God has called her, Angel decides to follow Paul and work in his ministry. She begins receiving speaking lessons and draws a great deal of attention from supporters.

Paul's wife, Sarah, grows jealous of the attention Angel receives. Paul's preaching method includes provocative segments with women performing as biblical temptresses like Jezebel and Delilah.

Angel's devotion deepens when Hoke attacks her for rejecting him due to her piety, and Paul rescues her from the danger. The rescue strengthens Paul’s bond with Angel, fueling the evolving dynamic between them.

Paul, dissatisfied with his marriage to Sarah, leaves Sarah and sets Angel on the right path. This departure marks a turning point in both their lives and the public perception of their relationship.

Angel becomes increasingly popular, drawing large crowds to her ministry. Even Hoke vows that he will not stand in line to see her, signaling the tensions between believers and critics.

At the front of the tent, the crowd is numbered to manage the overflow as devotion grows. A bitter man with a lame leg and 13 children finally wins entry, illustrating the varied, often strained attendance.

Paul tells Angel that he wants to marry her and plans to divorce Sarah. This revelation injects renewed energy into Angel's preaching and her sense of purpose.

Paul confronts Sam Wilcox, who markets patent medicines and orchestrates fake miracles. Sam drinks heavily and attempts to confess during the melee, but the commotion drowns out his words.

Sarah bursts into the revival, condemning Angel and accusing the wheelchair miracle of being paid for. Hoke joins in, and the man in the wheelchair flees in panic as a large fight breaks out. The tent begins to crumble as the crowd scatters.

Amid the chaos, Angel passes by Hoke as if she cannot see or hear him, suggesting she has reverted to muteness. Paul emerges from the collapsed tent after lifting a fallen timber that had crushed his wife, underscoring the day's peril and cost.

Angel arrives at a small store where a couple pleads for healing for their lame son. She tells them she cannot heal the child, but Paul arrives and watches as she performs a final miracle. Despite losing faith in herself, many people continue to believe in her.