Review of Flavia the Heretic (1974) by Cli O — 01 Oct 2008

All anyone ever talks about regarding this film are the violent scenes, but there's a lot more going on than that in Flavia the Heretic. Flavia is strongly anchored by the always amazing Florinda Bolkan in the titular role.

I've seen her in many films and she has yet to disappoint. Truly an undervalued performer. Here she essays the role of a 16th century cloistered nun whose liberation from Catholic dogma leads her away from her pacifist Jewish admirer and onto the blood-caked role of heretical Muslim warrior.

The score by Nicolo Piovani (who, years later won Best Score Oscar for Life is Beautiful, but the Flavia score is far superior). is sublime, and for years, it's been rumoured that Piovani was a pseudonym for Ennio Morricone, but that seems to have been debunked recently.

Ironic, as Flavia's score reminds me of Morricone's stellar work on The Great Silence. Both scores have deeply melancholy recurring melodies that underlie the tragic fates of their eponymous outsider protaganists.

And, just to address the curious gorehounds - yes, there are very graphic scenes, and the ending above all is indeed truly painful to watch. Very gruesome - and sad, as Florinda plays it. As far as "nunsploitation" goes, this certainly doesn't hit the heights of The Devils or even my beloved Alucarda, but it's still a gem of the genre, and a great movie on its own terms as well.