The priest at St. Nicholas in the Bronx in 1964 is Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman). He is the chaplain at the church's parochial school where he also teaches basketball. Father Flynn is a believer in the winds of change that are sweeping through the country with integration and through the Catholic Church with Pope John XXIII. He has an easy and relaxed manner with the kids; as a preacher, he enjoys shaking his congregation up. In the opening scene of the film, he speaks about the positive value of doubt in the life of a believer: "Doubt can be a bond as powerful and sustaining as certainty. When you are lost, you are not alone."

The sermon troubles Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Meryl Streep), the imperious and authoritarian principal of the school. But she is expending her energy during the homily chastising the kids in the pews who are talking or sleeping. A severe disciplinarian, she has earned the fear of all the children in the school. Older than Father Flynn, she has no respect for all the changes going on around her. She sees things very clearly in her world of black and white, sin and salvation, right and wrong. Sister Aloysius is rightly upset by the power of priests in the Catholic Church and the secondary and subservient role of nuns.

Sister James (Amy Adams) is a young and enthusiastic nun who teaches history. She is viewed as too lenient with the children by Sister Aloysius who gives her a few tricks, such as putting a glass-framed picture of the Pope in the front of the room so she can see in its reflection if anyone is acting up while she has her back to the class. One day she notices that Donald, an altar boy and the school's first African-American student, has been called out of class for a private meeting with Father Flynn. When the boy returns, she senses that something has troubled him. Sister James also smells alcohol on his breath. She feels compelled to report this incident to Sister Aloysius who immediately infers that Father Flynn has made improper sexual advances to Donald.

In a very tense meeting with the priest and Sister James in her office, Sister Aloysius watches them drink tea and talk about the Christmas pageant. She voices her strong opinion against having the children sing any secular songs such as "Frosty the Snowman." Father Flynn uses the occasion to speak out against the repressive atmosphere in the school and makes it clear that he opts for making it a more open and friendly place. Sister Aloysius then zeroes in on the private meeting between father Flynn and Donald. The priest explodes at being accused of wrong-doing when there is no evidence against him. He leaves in rage and Sister Aloysius is more convinced than ever that he must be forced to leave. On Sunday, Father Flynn preaches a sermon against the damage that can be done by gossip. Meanwhile, Sister James reports that she is having trouble sleeping at night.

Doubt is written and directed by John Patrick Shanley from his 2004 play which won a Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award. He has based the story on his experiences at a Catholic school in a predominantly Irish Catholic working-class Bronx neighborhood. Shanley, who won an Academy Award for the screenplay for Moonstruck, has hit upon a perfect theme for any depiction of Christianity in these times: the clash between those who live by certain rigid ideas and ideals and those who are more open to change and renewal. Meryl Streep puts in an Academy Award-caliber performance as the scary and overzealous principal whose certainty about Father Flynn and his sin is astonishing. Like the crusaders of the Inquisition, she refuses to admit that there is any other understanding or way of responding than her own.

Equally mesmerizing is Philip Seymour Hoffman who acknowledges his human failings but bases his ministry on the practice of love and compassion. In a crucial scene, he meets with Sister James and commends her for her joy of teaching and "the light in your heart." Although Sister Aloysius is a chilly person who seems to be all rules and regulations, she demonstrates her caring side in the loving attention she gives to the older nuns. In another climactic scene in the drama, she meets with Donald's mother (Viola Davis) and is shocked to learn of another way of seeing the boy and his relationship with Father Flynn.

In the end, Shanley is determined to let each and every viewer make up his or her mind about the guilt or innocence of Father Flynn. The drama challenges us to take more seriously both the mysteries of the human personality and the uncertainty which lies at the core of our days and doings. Love and doubt converge in the practice of not knowing. And that is the true spiritual path. The world is drenched in mystery and no matter what we do, we can never cut through it all and grab hold of the answer, the one explanation. "X" factors abound, upsetting our rational conclusions. Best to just say "I don't know" and take comfort in the reality that you are not alone.

Special DVD features include Doubt: from stage to screen; scoring Doubt; the cast of Doubt; and a feature commentary with writer/director John Patrick Shanley.