new york city based on novel or book italian american mother-in-law catholic woman director 1950s 1960s card game superstition arranged marriage butcher's shop devoutness belief in god seppuku little italy death of daughter convent (nunnery) death in childbirth life of saint fatima religious delusions ritual suicide sudden death sainthood obsessive thoughts cruel mother-in-law death while asleep grandmother granddaughter relationship miracles interfering mother-in-law deprivation piety faith and religion making a bet mother-in-law daughter-in-law relationship catholic schoolgirl madam butterfly catholic theology religious calling religious visions unexplained death pinochle religious obsession roman catholic church