The film centers on a Dominican monk named Jérôme (played by one actor in colour and another actor in black-and-white) and his interactions with various higher-ups within the French Catholic Church. Ruiz's intention was to reflect the ideological arguments that plagued Latin American left-wing political parties.
Daniel Gélin
as Malagrida
François Simon
as La Montagne
Didier Flamand
as Jérôme 1
Pascal Bonitzer
as Jérôme 2
Jean Lescot
as Le père-maître 1
Édith Scob
as Mère Angélique 1
Frédérique Meininger
as Mère Angélique 2
Marcel Imhoff
as Le père-maître 2
Jean-Robert Viard
as L'évêque
Raoul Guillet
as Le supérieur
Geneviève Mnich
as Sœur Théophile
