I guess I would put it in the group of films like Inquisition, El Inquisador and Bloody Judge, but it isn't a witch hunting film either. It is a story that is at once horrific and will make you sit up and take notice.
It involves two young women who are brought to the Inquisiton by the church, who really only wants the money and possessions of one of the women. They are accused of every stupid and silly things that people say about them and they are stripped and tortured in many various and painful ways by the church.
Both are whipped, burned, stretched on the rack and many other atrocities. This is not a pleasant film and the ending with burning at the stake for one of the women is not at all easy to watch.
Both women are beautiful and they are naked thru 99% of the film. The torture isn't presented in an exploitative way, but in a way that makes you understand the horrors of the acts against these women.
Lovely Amy Hesketh is Mariana de castro and Mila Joya is Francisca de la Cruz, the two women who are brought before the inquisition. Both women do a fine job and Amy REALLY suffers for her art here folks.
Director Jac Avila knows how to make a damn good story and not make it too exploitative.
If you get the chance, you will want to see this film, but please know it has ample violence and both women are nude throughtout the entire film, except the very beginning and the end.
Highly Recommended!!
Thanks so much for this wonderful review!
ReplyDeleteThe Download is available here: http://movies.vermeerworks.com
And the DVD is right here:
http://vermeerworks.com/store/dvds
Thank you for the kind words about my Blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the helpful review, which led me to this movie and others by Amy. Her interviews and Q&As on youtube are wonderful for their insights into the subtleties of acting and the devotion it demands. For perceptiveness and honesty they are as fine as any I've seen. Amy is someone to watch.
ReplyDeleteWell thank you for visiting the site. I agree with you on her interviews. Amy is not one of these usually pretentious idiots. She IS someone to watch!!
DeleteI've seen Maleficarum (as well as other films by Amy) and she never fails to impress. This is a terrific film - a lot of thought, research and hard work went into the making of it. Thanks for bringing this one to the attention of your audience.
ReplyDeleteYikYakker...thanks for the kind comments, and I will be bringing more of these films to the attention of my audience.
ReplyDeleteAfter all, a good film is a good film no matter what.