Apostasy

Ivanna Whitling, an Oldham-based Jehovah's Witness, lives with her two adult daughters, Alex and Luisa. Alex suffers from anemia and faces a medical dilemma because her faith forbids blood transfusions in emergencies. The family's religious commitments and health concerns set the stage for the conflicts to come.

Alex and Luisa go door-to-door to spread their faith among local Urdu-speaking residents. They persevere despite cultural and language barriers, illustrating their dedication to the ministry. The scene establishes the sisters' bond and the community's varied responses.

During a walk in the park, Luisa reveals to her mother and sister that she is pregnant. The news compounds the tension between personal desire and strict religious expectations. The revelation becomes a catalyst for future estrangements.

Ivanna condemns Luisa for having sex outside of marriage, triggering Luisa's disfellowshipping. An announcement is made at the Kingdom Hall declaring that Luisa is no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses, and she is to be shunned by family and congregation. Luisa moves out, and the elders insist that contact with her be kept to an absolute minimum.

A newly arrived elder named Steven introduces himself to Ivanna and Alex at a congregation meeting. His presence signals changes in leadership and expectations within the group. The scene marks the beginning of new pressures surrounding their relationships.

Steven visits Alex at her home under the pretense of shepherding, but his true aim appears to be courting her. The encounter challenges the boundaries set by the shunning and the congregation's rules. Alex's reaction foreshadows personal conflict with religious authority.

During a gathering with friends, Alex collapses, and the scene cuts to Ivanna in despair outside a hospital. The medical crisis elevates the stakes of faith versus family duty. The audience is left to wonder about the outcome.

Luisa attends Alex's funeral but is largely ignored by the others due to the disfellowshipping. The cold reception underscores the harsh enforcement of community rules. The moment highlights the cost of the schism within the family.

In the cloak room after the funeral, Ivanna and Luisa share a quiet, strained hug as Luisa sheds tears. The moment reveals a fragile thread of connection that persists despite the division between them.

Ivanna visits Luisa and helps clean her flat, arguing that Luisa still deserves basic support and care. They discuss the possibility of reconciliation and what a path back to faith might entail for the family. Ivanna hints at the hope of a future where Leanne and the family could be together again in some form.

Ivanna meets with elder Steven to ask whether Luisa is ready for reinstatement. He cautions that she is on her way but not yet in her heart, and urges Ivanna to minimize contact further, warning that unnecessary contact could itself be a disfellowshipping offense.

Luisa meets with the elders to demonstrate repentance, stating that she has lived on her own for seven months, attended meetings, and prayed. The elders assess her sincerity and the steps she has taken toward restoration. The exchange emphasizes how far Luisa still has to go in their eyes.

Luisa gives birth to a daughter named Leanne, and Ivanna visits to hold her granddaughter and discuss spiritual teaching. They talk about Leanne learning about God, while Ivanna expresses love and a hope that faith will guide the child's life. The moment deepens the emotional stakes for the family.

Ivanna grabs Leanne out of the bassinet and takes her to the car, declaring she will save her granddaughter. Luisa runs after and snatches Leanne back, furious at the attempt to separate mother and child. The confrontation crystallizes the clash between maternal bonds and doctrinal enforcement.

The film ends with Ivanna standing alone in a public space beside a stand of pamphlets promoting the faith. The final image underscores the personal and familial costs of rigid religious enforcement and the unresolved rift within the family.