Review of Flavia the Heretic (1974) by Ricky M — 13 Apr 2008

Flavia the Heretic is another entry into the mostly Italian sub exploitation genre known as Nunsploitation. You can usually ascociate Nuns getting up to all manner of no good. And Flavia does deliver this in spades.

However what it also turned out to be is a really well made and surprisingly moving tale of Flavia rebeling against the subjucation of woman in her time. This works really well both as a historical piece, a feminist rallying cry and a piece of shock exploitation cinema.

There are some pretty gruesome scenes here, made worse when you realise this stuff probably happened in the name of religion.

Florinda Bokan is excellent in the title role, the score is very emotive and it is beautifully shot.

All in all a surprisingly good movie that works on different levels.