It’s 1931. The rebellious and defiant Emilia is sent by her father to a convent. Her arrival unleashes paranormal manifestations, which disturb all of the residents, nuns and their mentally ill charges alike, but for Emilia, in particular, they feel like a cry for help, impossible to ignore.
Grimmfest Says: A furiously full-on fever dream of vengeful ghosts, religious hypocrisy, political intrigues and family guilt, Tamae Garateguy’s nerve-shredding spin on the notorious nunsploitation subgenre is a far closer spiritual cousin to Ken Russell’s THE DEVILS than it is to Walerian Borowczyk’s BEHIND CONVENT WALLS. It’s a film that pulls no punches, that refuses to hold back, but its confrontational in-your-face imagery and visceral visual extremes – orgies, graphic torture, even cannibalism – are matched by the incisive intelligence with which it explores complex questions of love and faith, politics and metaphysics, and the ruthless, unflinching interrogation it offers of Church power-mongering, State corruption and the toxic collusion between them. Stunningly visualised, subtly played, smartly scripted, and yet utterly savage, it’s a film that will shock, disturb, provoke, and challenge. Grimmfest are thrilled to be hosting the UK Premiere.