Hail Mary

Hail Mary

Year: 1985

Runtime: 72 mins

Language: French

Director: Jean-Luc Godard

DramaFaith and religionErotic relationships and desireReligious faith sin and forgivenessFaith and spiritual journeys

A college student gets pregnant without having intercourse, affecting people close and unrelated to her in different ways.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Hail Mary (1985)

Trace every key event in Hail Mary (1985) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Marie's ordinary life and vow of virginity

Marie is a student who also works at her father's Swiss gas station and plays basketball for a local team. She proclaims she is a virgin and maintains a strict, chaste relationship with her boyfriend Joseph. These ordinary details establish the grounded life before the film's extraordinary events unfold.

Father's gas station, Switzerland
2

Joseph's loyalty tested by Juliette

Joseph remains loyal to Marie despite her vow of chastity, while Juliette tries to lure him away. The tension comes from the possibility of infidelity in their social circle. The scenario tests their commitment to each other.

Local town
3

Arrival of Uncle Gabriel and the pregnancy prophecy

Uncle Gabriel arrives by jet plane, accompanied by a small girl who acts as his secretary, delivering an unsettling message. He prophesies that Marie will become pregnant despite remaining chaste, shocking both Marie and Joseph. The extraordinary claim sets the film on a path toward a sacred pregnancy.

Marie’s home
4

Joseph's disbelief and accusation

Joseph cannot believe that Marie could be pregnant while remaining a virgin, and he accuses her of sleeping around. He wrestles with jealousy and doubt as the baby’s arrival seems impossible. The couple's trust is strained as rumors swirl around them.

Marie and Joseph's home
5

Gabriel instructs Joseph to accept the pregnancy

Gabriel aggressively teaches Joseph to accept the pregnancy as part of a larger plan. He urges him to shift from accusation to faith and support for Marie’s destiny. The moment marks a turn from conflict to submission to a divine script.

Marie and Joseph's home
6

Marie meditates on God's plan

Marie withdraws into meditation, sometimes angry, sometimes serene, as elemental images of sun, moon, clouds, flowers, and water surface in her thoughts. The inner work helps her come to terms with the miraculous pregnancy. This spiritual practice anchors her resolve.

Marie’s room
7

Eva's parallel affair with the professor

In a parallel thread, Eva, a college student, becomes involved with her professor who theorizes that life on Earth arose from a guided extraterrestrial intelligence. The romance introduces themes of desire and forbidden knowledge outside conventional boundaries. The professor eventually leaves back East, leaving Eva distraught.

College campus
8

Marie learns to touch without touching

With Gabriel's help, Marie learns to 'touch' her partner without physical contact, opening a new way for Joseph to be close to her. Joseph pledges to be Marie's shadow, supporting her path and the mysterious pregnancy. The exchange deepens their bond while keeping the sacred process central.

Marie and Joseph's home
9

Joseph becomes Marie's shadow

Joseph pledges to act as Marie's shadow, standing by her side as she moves through the pregnancy. Marie remarks that this role mirrors a broader spiritual truth about male presence and divine influence. Their relationship evolves from suspicion to unified purpose.

Marie and Joseph's home
10

Marriage, pregnancy, and birth of a son

The couple marries, and Marie ultimately gives birth to a son. They raise him together, merging love, faith, and family life with the miracle that began their journey. The birth marks a concrete, domestic culmination of the pregnancy arc.

Family home
11

The son grows and pursues his father's business

As the boy grows, he eventually leaves home to pursue 'his father's business,' signaling the next generation's path. Marie and Joseph watch him depart with a sense of purpose and legacy. The family dynamic shifts as the son steps into a role tied to the family's identity.

Family home
12

Marie seeks unity of body and spirit

In the film's closing arc, Marie continues to explore her sexuality, seeking to link her body and spirit in a broader sense of self. The final moments emphasize personal growth, spiritual integration, and a renewed sense of agency. The story returns to a highly personal plane of transformation.

Marie’s life

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:41

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Hail Mary

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