The heroines of the film Irene Bruner and Father Richard Moore are the basis for the development of the story and represent both sides of the dispute. The producer took the selection of actors for these two roles as the first and most important task, and finally selected Laura Linni and Tom Wilkinson. Laura Linne decided to play the role because she was attracted by the split, confrontation and struggle within the character; the director took a fancy to the great humanity that Tom Wilkinson's face revealed and the vicissitudes of life hidden in her eyes.
Jennifer Carpenter, who played Emily, was recommended by Laura Linney. The two became acquainted with the Broadway show "The Passion Age". Carpenter, who participated in the audition, directly changed the director Derrickson's shooting ideas. The director exclaimed that her performance can be done without special effects, and the performance itself is very horrible.
