Nunsploitation
Encyclopedia
Nunsploitation is a subgenre of exploitation film
which had its peak in Europe in the 1970s. These films typically involve Christian nun
s living in convent
s during the Middle Ages
. The main conflict of the story is usually of a religious or sexual nature, such as religious oppression or sexual suppression due to living in celibacy
. The Inquisition
is another common theme. These films, although often seen as pure exploitation films, often contain criticism against religion in general and the Catholic church
in particular. Indeed, some protagonist dialogue voiced feminist consciousness and rejection of their subordinated social role. Many of these films were made in countries where the Catholic Church is influential, such as Italy and Spain. One atypical example of the genre, however, is Killer Nun
(Suor Omicidi), set in, then, present-day Italy (1978).
Nunsploitation, along with Nazisploitation, is a subgenre that ran a parallel course alongside Women in prison films in the 1970s and 1980s. As with prison films, they are set in isolated, fortress-like convents where the all-female population turns to lesbianism and perversity. The element of religious guilt allows for lurid depictions of "mortifying the flesh" such as self-flagellation and painful, masochistic rituals. The Mother Superior is usually a cruel and corrupt warden-like martinet who enforces strict discipline (more opportunities for whippings and medieval-style punishments) and often lusts after her female charges. An equally sadistic and lecherous priest is often included to add an element of masculine menace to the story.
Some segments from the Scandinavian silent film Häxan
(1922) may be seen as a precursor for this genre. A more recent act of nunsploitation in a film is in Robert Rodriguez
's Machete
(2010), where Lindsay Lohan
portrays a gun-toting nun.
Among other examples of exploitation cinema in Europe over the last sixty years, nunsploitation genre movies are discussed in Mendik and Mathij's recent overview volume on this general trend within regional cinema genres, cultures, and audience consumption. Chris Fujiwara wrote a detailed piece discussing examples of the genre such as Killer Nun
(1978), The Nun and the Devil
(1973) and Flavia the Heretic (1974), in Hermenaut, a US pop culture journal.
The Devils
, based on a book by Aldous Huxley
and directed by Ken Russell
, have some basis in fact. Huxley based his original historical account, The Devils of Loudun
, on a reported case of mass hysteria and demonic possession that allegedly took place at a French convent in the seventeenth century. Given that the genre was the product of the sixties and seventies, with an occasional contemporary example like the recent Sacred Flesh
(1999), there has been little further resort to possible historical source material, like Aelred of Hexham (1110–1167) and his account of the Nun of Watton
, for example. Another example might be the life of Sister Benedetta Carlini
, a 17th century Italian lesbian
nun.
Twenty years ago, Graciela Daichan collected stories about aberrant medieval religious women, but since that time, there has been no serious historical attempt to explore what factual basis might exist for the literary depictions that often served as the basis for nunsploitation cinema.
's School of the Holy Beast
(1974), Masaru Konuma
's Cloistered Nun: Runa's Confession (1976), Koyu Ohara
's Sister Lucia's Dishonor (1978), and Wet Rope Confession: Convent Story (1979), Hiroshi Mukai's Nun: Secret (1978), Nobuaki Shirai's Nun Story: Frustration in Black (1980), and Mamoru Watanabe
's Rope of Hell: A Nun's Story (1981) and Electric Bible: Sister Hunting (1992). In 1995, big-busted AV idol
, Mariko Morikawa
starred in director Sachi Hamano
's Big Tit Monastery (巨乳修道院), another Japanese variation on the nunsploitation genre.
Exploitation film
Exploitation film is a type of film that is promoted by "exploiting" often lurid subject matter. The term "exploitation" is common in film marketing, used for all types of films to mean promotion or advertising. These films then need something to exploit, such as a big star, special effects, sex,...
which had its peak in Europe in the 1970s. These films typically involve Christian nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
s living in convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
s during the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. The main conflict of the story is usually of a religious or sexual nature, such as religious oppression or sexual suppression due to living in celibacy
Celibacy
Celibacy is a personal commitment to avoiding sexual relations, in particular a vow from marriage. Typically celibacy involves avoiding all romantic relationships of any kind. An individual may choose celibacy for religious reasons, such as is the case for priests in some religions, for reasons of...
. The Inquisition
Inquisition
The Inquisition, Inquisitio Haereticae Pravitatis , was the "fight against heretics" by several institutions within the justice-system of the Roman Catholic Church. It started in the 12th century, with the introduction of torture in the persecution of heresy...
is another common theme. These films, although often seen as pure exploitation films, often contain criticism against religion in general and the Catholic church
Anti-Catholicism
Anti-Catholicism is a generic term for discrimination, hostility or prejudice directed against Catholicism, and especially against the Catholic Church, its clergy or its adherents...
in particular. Indeed, some protagonist dialogue voiced feminist consciousness and rejection of their subordinated social role. Many of these films were made in countries where the Catholic Church is influential, such as Italy and Spain. One atypical example of the genre, however, is Killer Nun
Killer Nun
Killer Nun is an Italian nunsploitation film directed/co-written by Giulio Berruti and co-written by Alberto Tarallo...
(Suor Omicidi), set in, then, present-day Italy (1978).
Nunsploitation, along with Nazisploitation, is a subgenre that ran a parallel course alongside Women in prison films in the 1970s and 1980s. As with prison films, they are set in isolated, fortress-like convents where the all-female population turns to lesbianism and perversity. The element of religious guilt allows for lurid depictions of "mortifying the flesh" such as self-flagellation and painful, masochistic rituals. The Mother Superior is usually a cruel and corrupt warden-like martinet who enforces strict discipline (more opportunities for whippings and medieval-style punishments) and often lusts after her female charges. An equally sadistic and lecherous priest is often included to add an element of masculine menace to the story.
Some segments from the Scandinavian silent film Häxan
Häxan
Häxan is a 1922 Swedish/Danish silent horror film written and directed by Benjamin Christensen...
(1922) may be seen as a precursor for this genre. A more recent act of nunsploitation in a film is in Robert Rodriguez
Robert Rodriguez
Robert Anthony Rodríguez is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer, editor and musician. He shoots and produces many of his films in his native Texas and Mexico. He has directed such films as Desperado, From Dusk till Dawn, The Faculty, Spy Kids, Sin City, Planet...
's Machete
Machete (film)
Machete is a 2010 action film directed by Robert Rodriguez and Ethan Maniquis. The "Machete" character originates from the 2001 Spy Kids film, written and directed by Robert Rodriguez. This film is an expansion of a fake trailer that was released together with Rodriguez's and Quentin Tarantino's...
(2010), where Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan is an American actress, pop singer and model. She began her career as a child fashion model before making her motion picture debut in Disney's 1998 remake of The Parent Trap at the age of 11...
portrays a gun-toting nun.
Among other examples of exploitation cinema in Europe over the last sixty years, nunsploitation genre movies are discussed in Mendik and Mathij's recent overview volume on this general trend within regional cinema genres, cultures, and audience consumption. Chris Fujiwara wrote a detailed piece discussing examples of the genre such as Killer Nun
Killer Nun
Killer Nun is an Italian nunsploitation film directed/co-written by Giulio Berruti and co-written by Alberto Tarallo...
(1978), The Nun and the Devil
The Nun and the Devil
The Nun and the Devil, or Le Monache di Sant'Arcangelo in the original Italian, is an erotic 1973 French/ Italian nunsploitation film directed by...
(1973) and Flavia the Heretic (1974), in Hermenaut, a US pop culture journal.
Historical basis
Some films, such as the X-ratedX-rated
In some countries, X is or has been a motion picture rating reserved for the most explicit films. Films rated X are intended only for viewing by adults, usually legally defined as people over the age of 17.-United Kingdom:...
The Devils
The Devils (film)
The Devils is a 1971 British historical drama directed by Ken Russell and starring Oliver Reed and Vanessa Redgrave. It is based partially on the 1952 book The Devils of Loudun by Aldous Huxley, and partially on the 1960 play The Devils by John Whiting, also based on Huxley's book...
, based on a book by Aldous Huxley
Aldous Huxley
Aldous Leonard Huxley was an English writer and one of the most prominent members of the famous Huxley family. Best known for his novels including Brave New World and a wide-ranging output of essays, Huxley also edited the magazine Oxford Poetry, and published short stories, poetry, travel...
and directed by Ken Russell
Ken Russell
Henry Kenneth Alfred "Ken" Russell was an English film director, known for his pioneering work in television and film and for his flamboyant and controversial style. He attracted criticism as being obsessed with sexuality and the church...
, have some basis in fact. Huxley based his original historical account, The Devils of Loudun
The Devils of Loudun
The Devils of Loudun is a 1952 non-fiction novel by Aldous Huxley. It is a historical narrative of supposed demonic possession, religious fanaticism, sexual repression, and mass hysteria which occurred in 17th century France surrounding unexplained events that took place in the small town of...
, on a reported case of mass hysteria and demonic possession that allegedly took place at a French convent in the seventeenth century. Given that the genre was the product of the sixties and seventies, with an occasional contemporary example like the recent Sacred Flesh
Sacred Flesh
Sacred Flesh is a 1999 British nunsploitation film. It is set in an indeterminate past, and consists of a series of loosely connected vignettes that depict pseudo-lesbian sexuality and some sado-masochistic activity.-Synopsis:...
(1999), there has been little further resort to possible historical source material, like Aelred of Hexham (1110–1167) and his account of the Nun of Watton
Nun of Watton
The Nun of Watton was the alleged central protagonist of a drama at a Gilbertine abbey in Yorkshire, recorded by St. Ailred of Rievaulx in De Sanctimoniali de Wattun. In this story of twelfth-century life, the nun in question was admitted to the holy life as a toddler...
, for example. Another example might be the life of Sister Benedetta Carlini
Benedetta Carlini
Benedetta Carlini was a Catholic mystic and lesbian nun, who lived in Counter-Reformation Italy during the 16th and seventeenth century. Judith C. Brown chronicled her life in Immodest Acts , which discussed the events that led to her archival significance for historians of women's spirituality...
, a 17th century Italian lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
nun.
Twenty years ago, Graciela Daichan collected stories about aberrant medieval religious women, but since that time, there has been no serious historical attempt to explore what factual basis might exist for the literary depictions that often served as the basis for nunsploitation cinema.
Nunsploitation in Japan
Catholic nun exploitation films have been a sub-genre of Japanese exploitation film since at least the early 1970s. Though Christianity was never a dominant religion in Japan, Japan did encounter Christian missionaries. By taking a minority religion as their subject, it has been suggested that these "shockingly perverse and wildly blasphemous" Catholic nun films are "a way of thumbing one's nose at organized religion without attacking the more sacred beliefs of the general society." Some entries in this genre include Norifumi SuzukiNorifumi Suzuki
', also known as Norifumi Suzuki, is a Japanese film director and screenwriter. He is best known for his works for studio Toei , especially the Red Peony Gambler and Truck Yarō series.Suzuki was born November 26, 1933 in Shizuoka...
's School of the Holy Beast
School of the Holy Beast
is a film in the nunsploitation sub-genre of Pinky violence made by Toei Company in 1974.-Plot:A young woman becomes a nun at the Sacred Heart Convent to find out what happened to her mother years earlier. She encounters a lesbian mother superior, lecherous archbishops, and uncovers many dark...
(1974), Masaru Konuma
Masaru Konuma
is a Japanese director most famous for his Roman Porno films for Nikkatsu during the 1970s.-Early life:Masaru Konuma was born in Otaru, Hokkaidō, on December 30, 1937. Konuma retains no memories of his father who was a teacher...
's Cloistered Nun: Runa's Confession (1976), Koyu Ohara
Koyu Ohara
is a Japanese film director best known known for his popular Roman Porno films, Fairy in a Cage and the Pink Tush Girl series...
's Sister Lucia's Dishonor (1978), and Wet Rope Confession: Convent Story (1979), Hiroshi Mukai's Nun: Secret (1978), Nobuaki Shirai's Nun Story: Frustration in Black (1980), and Mamoru Watanabe
Mamoru Watanabe
is a Japanese film director, screenwriter, and actor, known for his work in the pink film genre. Along with directors Genji Nakamura and Banmei Takahashi, Watanabe is known as one of the "Three Pillars of Pink".-Early life:...
's Rope of Hell: A Nun's Story (1981) and Electric Bible: Sister Hunting (1992). In 1995, big-busted AV idol
AV Idol
An AV idol is a Japanese idol who works in the pornographic business, often both as an actress as well as a model as the video performances have a wide range, from just the idol strolling around their house doing chores in bikinis to hardcore porn...
, Mariko Morikawa
Mariko Morikawa
is a Japanese AV idol known for her very large, natural breasts. Though publicity touted her Japanese brassiere size as a 124-centimeter "Q-cup," her premier video stated that she was a 104-centimeter I-cup.-Life and career:...
starred in director Sachi Hamano
Sachi Hamano
aka and , is a Japanese film director. She is the most prolific and written-about female pink film director.-Life and career:Sachi Hamano was born as Sachiko Suzuki in Tokushima Prefecture on March 19, 1948. While in high school, Hamano decided she wanted to become a film director...
's Big Tit Monastery (巨乳修道院), another Japanese variation on the nunsploitation genre.
Examples of nunsploitation films
- Mother Joan of the AngelsMother Joan of the AngelsMother Joan of the Angels is a 1961 drama film on demonic possession, directed by Jerzy Kawalerowicz, based on a novella of the same title by Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz...
(Jerzy Kawalerowicz) (Poland) (1961) - The Nun of MonzaLa monaca di MonzaLa monaca di Monza is a 1962 Italian film directed by Carmine Gallone. It stars Gabriele Ferzetti, Giovanna Ralli and Mario Feliciani.The film is about a young nobleman who seduces a nun, leading to the death of the man and the internment of the woman....
(Eriprando ViscontiEriprando ViscontiEriprando Visconti di Modrone, Count of Vico Modrone was an Italian film director. He was the nephew of the more famous Luchino Visconti.He married Princess Fracesca Patrizia Ruspoli.-External links:...
) (Italy) (1969) - The DevilsThe Devils (film)The Devils is a 1971 British historical drama directed by Ken Russell and starring Oliver Reed and Vanessa Redgrave. It is based partially on the 1952 book The Devils of Loudun by Aldous Huxley, and partially on the 1960 play The Devils by John Whiting, also based on Huxley's book...
(Ken RussellKen RussellHenry Kenneth Alfred "Ken" Russell was an English film director, known for his pioneering work in television and film and for his flamboyant and controversial style. He attracted criticism as being obsessed with sexuality and the church...
) (1971) - Love Letters of a Portuguese Nun (Jesus FrancoJesús FrancoJesús "Jess" Franco is a Spanish film director, writer, cinematographer and actor. His career took off in 1961 with his cult classic The Awful Dr. Orloff, which received wide distribution in the United States and England...
) (1973) - The Nun and the DevilThe Nun and the DevilThe Nun and the Devil, or Le Monache di Sant'Arcangelo in the original Italian, is an erotic 1973 French/ Italian nunsploitation film directed by...
(Domenico Paolella) (Italy) (1973) - Flavia, la monaca musulmana (Gianfranco Mingozzi) (1974)
- School of the Holy BeastSchool of the Holy Beastis a film in the nunsploitation sub-genre of Pinky violence made by Toei Company in 1974.-Plot:A young woman becomes a nun at the Sacred Heart Convent to find out what happened to her mother years earlier. She encounters a lesbian mother superior, lecherous archbishops, and uncovers many dark...
(Norifumi SuzukiNorifumi Suzuki', also known as Norifumi Suzuki, is a Japanese film director and screenwriter. He is best known for his works for studio Toei , especially the Red Peony Gambler and Truck Yarō series.Suzuki was born November 26, 1933 in Shizuoka...
) (Japan) (19741974 in filmThe year 1974 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*February 7 - Blazing Saddles is released in the USA.*August 7 - Peter Wolf, lead singer of The J...
) - Le Scomunicate di San Valentino (Sergio GriecoSergio GriecoSergio Grieco was an Italian film director and screenwriter.He directed nearly 40 films between 1950 and 1977...
) (1974) - Satánico pandemoniumSatánico pandemoniumSatánico pandemonium is a Mexican cult nunsploitation film directed by Gilberto Martínez Solares and written from Jorge Barragán, Adolfo Martínez Solares and Gilberto Martínez Solares...
(Gilberto Martínez Solares) (1975) - AlucardaAlucardaAlucarda is a 1978 Mexican horror film directed by Mexican horror filmmaker Juan López Moctezuma, starring Tina Romero in the title role...
aka "Sisters of Satan" (1975) - Cloistered Nun: Runa's Confession (Masaru KonumaMasaru Konumais a Japanese director most famous for his Roman Porno films for Nikkatsu during the 1970s.-Early life:Masaru Konuma was born in Otaru, Hokkaidō, on December 30, 1937. Konuma retains no memories of his father who was a teacher...
) (19761976 in filmThe year 1976 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*March 22 - Filming begins on George Lucas' Star Wars science fiction film...
) - Sister EmanuelleSuor EmanuelleSuor Emanuelle is a 1977 Exploitation film. It can be classified under both the nunsploitation and sexploitation exploitation film sub genres...
(Giuseppe Vari) (19771977 in filmThe year 1977 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*In the Academy Awards, Peter Finch, Faye Dunaway and Beatrice Straight win Best Actor and Actress and Supporting Actress awards for Network....
) - Killer NunKiller NunKiller Nun is an Italian nunsploitation film directed/co-written by Giulio Berruti and co-written by Alberto Tarallo...
(Suor Omicida) (Alberto Berruti) (1978) - Nun: Secret (Hiroshi Mukai) (1978)
- Sister Lucia's Dishonor (Koyu OharaKoyu Oharais a Japanese film director best known known for his popular Roman Porno films, Fairy in a Cage and the Pink Tush Girl series...
) (1978) - They Call Her Cleopatra WongThey Call Her Cleopatra WongThey Call Her... Cleopatra Wong is a 1978 film, starring Marrie Lee, Franco Guerrero, Dante Varonna and George Estregan. The film, riding on the success of Hong Kong martial arts films of the era as well as the James Bond and superspy craze, details the adventures of a female Interpol agent...
(Marrie LeeMarrie LeeDoris Young Siew Keen is a Singaporean actress. Given the stage name Marrie Lee, she made her film debut at age 18, portraying the title character in 1978's They Call Her Cleopatra Wong, a martial arts film about a female Interpol agent written and directed by Bobby A. Suarez...
) (1978) - Behind the Convent Walls (Interno di un convento) (Walerian BorowczykWalerian BorowczykWalerian Borowczyk was a Polish film director. He directed 40 films between 1946 and 1988. His career as a film director was mainly in France.-Biography:...
) (1978). - The Nun and the DevilThe Nun and the DevilThe Nun and the Devil, or Le Monache di Sant'Arcangelo in the original Italian, is an erotic 1973 French/ Italian nunsploitation film directed by...
(Joe D'Amato) (1978) - Images in a ConventImages in a ConventImages in a Convent is a 1979 sexploitation film by Italian cult filmmaker Joe D'Amato.This film marks D'Amato's second entry into the 'nunsploitation' subgenre of trash films, after The Nun and the Devil in 1972 and it was followed by Convent of Sinners in 1986.The film contains strong scenes of...
(Joe D'Amato) (1979) - The Other Hell (Bruno Mattei) (1980)
- The True Story of the Nun of Monza (Bruno Mattei) (1980)
- Convent of Sinners (Joe D'AmatoJoe D'AmatoJoe D'Amato, was a prolific Italian filmmaker who directed roughly 200 films, usually at the same time acting as producer and cinematographer, and sometimes providing the script as well...
) (1986) - Electric Bible: Sister Hunting (Mamoru WatanabeMamoru Watanabeis a Japanese film director, screenwriter, and actor, known for his work in the pink film genre. Along with directors Genji Nakamura and Banmei Takahashi, Watanabe is known as one of the "Three Pillars of Pink".-Early life:...
) (1992) - Sacred FleshSacred FleshSacred Flesh is a 1999 British nunsploitation film. It is set in an indeterminate past, and consists of a series of loosely connected vignettes that depict pseudo-lesbian sexuality and some sado-masochistic activity.-Synopsis:...
(Nigel WingroveNigel WingroveNigel Wingrove , is the founder of the horror film company Redemption Films and the Salvation Group and creator of the online alternative female collective, Satanic Sluts...
) (1999) - Nun of That (2009)
- MacheteMachete (film)Machete is a 2010 action film directed by Robert Rodriguez and Ethan Maniquis. The "Machete" character originates from the 2001 Spy Kids film, written and directed by Robert Rodriguez. This film is an expansion of a fake trailer that was released together with Rodriguez's and Quentin Tarantino's...
(Robert RodriguezRobert RodriguezRobert Anthony Rodríguez is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer, editor and musician. He shoots and produces many of his films in his native Texas and Mexico. He has directed such films as Desperado, From Dusk till Dawn, The Faculty, Spy Kids, Sin City, Planet...
) (portrayed by Lindsay LohanLindsay LohanLindsay Lohan is an American actress, pop singer and model. She began her career as a child fashion model before making her motion picture debut in Disney's 1998 remake of The Parent Trap at the age of 11...
) (2010) - Nude Nuns with Big GunsNude Nuns with Big GunsNude Nuns with Big Guns is a 2010 nunsploitation thriller film.The film was the subject of one of the largest copyright lawsuits in California...
(2010)
External links
- Nunsploitation.net A website devoted entirely to Nunsploitation movie news and reviews
- Convent Erotica Article about nunsploitation movies by Chris Fujiwara