Hail Mary

A devout, sexually reserved student who works at her father's Swiss gas station and plays basketball. She asserts virginity while maintaining a chast relationship with her boyfriend, Joseph, as she confronts a divine calling. Her journey moves from doubt toward embracing the miraculous pregnancy as part of a greater plan.

A taxi driver and college dropout who remains loyal to Marie. He initially doubts the pregnancy and accuses Marie of infidelity, then receives guidance to accept the situation. He pledges to act as Marie’s shadow, evolving through faith and steadfast love.

A college student drawn into an affair with her professor, who theorizes life originated from guided extraterrestrial intelligence. Her storyline parallels Marie’s but centers on scientific speculation and emotional turmoil when the relationship ends. She embodies the conflict between intellectual pursuit and personal vulnerability.

A mysterious emissary who arrives by jet plane with a young girl as his secretary. He delivers Marie’s pregnancy news and guides Joseph toward accepting it, acting as a bridge between the mortal and divine orders. His presence anchors the film’s theological tension and revelation.

A girl who entreats Joseph to be with her, introducing a countercurrent of temptation to Marie and Joseph’s relationship. Her presence spices the social dynamics and underscores the choice between fidelity and desire. She tests the couple’s resolve within the broader web of relationships.

The son born to Marie and Joseph, whose growth and eventual departure symbolize a passage from parental protection to independence. His existence frames the narrative’s culmination as a move toward maturity and the realization of family legacy. The child’s departure hints at broader calls beyond the family unit.

A scholar who theorizes about life’s origins and engages in Eva’s personal affairs. His intellectual pursuit contrasts with Marie’s religious experience, highlighting the collision of scientific curiosity with spiritual belief. His departure hints at the limits of theoretical knowledge when faced with intimate human drama.

A minor character glimpsed in the waiting room scenes, contributing to the film’s human texture. His presence helps establish the intimate, every-day setting where extraordinary events unfold. He punctuates the film’s quiet, observational tone.

Another waiting room figure who reinforces the film’s focus on ordinary people in intimate spaces. Her presence adds to the atmosphere of everyday life intersecting with larger spiritual questions. She functions as part of the film’s lived-in realism.

A young girl who appears alongside Uncle Gabriel and contributes to the film’s layered, symbolic network of characters. Her brief presence helps populate the surreal interface between the earthly and the divine. She mirrors the film’s themes of guidance and innocence.