
Plot
Set halfway through the 17th century, a church play is performed for the benefit of the young aristocrat Cosimo. In the play, a grotesque old woman gives birth to a beautiful baby boy. The child's older sister is quick to exploit the situation, selling blessings from the baby, and even claiming she's the true mother by virgin birth. However, when she attempts to seduce the bishop's son, the Church exacts a terrible revenge.
Trailer
Cast

Julia Ormond
The Daughter

Ralph Fiennes
The Bishop's Son

Philip Stone
The Bishop

Jonathan Lacey
Cosimo Medici

Don Henderson
The Father Confessor

Celia Gregory
The Mother Superior

Jeff Nuttall
The Major Domo

Jessica Hynes
The First Midwife (as Jessica Stevenson)

Kathryn Hunter
The Second Midwife

Gabrielle Reidy
The Third Midwife

Frank Egerton
The Prompter

Phelim McDermott
The First Tutor

Tony Vogel
The Father

Tatiana Strauss
The First Nun

Louisa Milwood-Haigh
The Second Nun

Anna Nieland
The Wetnurse

Graham Valentine
Famine

Diana van Kolck
The Mother

Leslie Cuss
The Second Tutor

Rien Kroon
The Chaplain

Jan Sepers
Carpaccio

Nils Dorando
The Baby of Mâcon

Richard Blair
The First Soldier

Tony Dunham
The Second Soldier

Humphrey Sallons
Cosimo's Servant

Dennis Rudge
Entourage Servant

Hans Bosch
Entourage Servant

Sjoerd Ghijssen
Entourage Servant

Michiel Riedijk
Entourage Servant

Bert Sevenhuijsen
The Deacon

John Hartnett
Cynical Auction Bidder (uncredited)

Bastian Pastewka
Laborer (uncredited)

Dela Maria Vaags
Choir Farmer's Wives (uncredited)