MOTHER JOAN OF THE ANGELS (1961)

In a 17th century Polish village, Father Jozef stops at an inn, seeming emaciated and a bit nervous. He is joining a group of priests sent to investigate the reported demonic possession of nuns at a convent, in particular the mother superior, Mother Joan, and perform an exorcism if necessary. A local priest, Garniec, had been accused of sorcery and sexual assault and burned at the stake, though the nuns supposedly looked forward to his visits, and they have been possessed ever since. Where the other priests failed, Jozef is determined to succeed. When Jozef confronts Joan, she names the eight demons that are involved, cackling and creeping about as the other nuns frolic. (One nun, Sister Malgorzata, who is not possessed, visits the village inn frequently, and eventually leaves the convent to partner up with a traveling squire, leading to unhappiness.) When Jozef and the other priests sprinkle the nuns with holy water, they scream and contort, and Joan says that one of the demons leaves, which still leaves seven more. Eating barely enough to stay alive and inexperienced in the ways of the world, Jozef continues his battle, both spiritual and personal, with Mother Joan. She admits that she opened her soul to the demons and enjoys the feeling of being possessed. After consulting with a local rabbi, Jozef decides the only way to exorcise Joan is to take the demon on himself.

This is based on a Polish novella which was itself based on a true story that happened in France and was the basis of Aldous Huxley’s non-fiction book The Devils of Loudun. The most famous adaptation of this story is the controversial Ken Russell film The Devils which covers the confrontation between the first priest (Grandier in real life) and the nuns. This movie picks up some time after that priest’s death, and the character of Father Jozef is also based on a real person. Russell's film is full of blasphemous sexual activity and was originally rated X; this is a much more sedate affair, shot in gorgeous black and white with a fluid camera in sparse settings with imagery reminiscent of the work of Ingmar Bergman. The carrying-on of the nuns is much less explicit here but still unsettling. Lucyna Winnicka is excellent as Mother Joan, alternately seductive and innocent, and Mieczyslaw Volt every bit as good, if less showy, as the mild-mannered priest who becomes focused, determined (he practices self-flagellation), and eventually more unbalanced than the nuns. He seems doomed from the start, though the cause of his doom is not predictable. Volt also plays the rabbi in a short scene near the end. There seems to be confusion over where the film is set. Wikipedia says it takes place in the Russian village of Smolensk, some reviewers refer to it being in Loudon in France. I don't think any place names are mentioned in the movie, but with the background and the character names, Poland seems most likely. A strong feeling of fate runs through this story which falls back on psychological explanations rather than spiritual ones for the possession and its aftermath. Worth seeing, especially if you’re a fan of Russell’s earlier film. Directed by Jerzy Kawalerowicz. [YouTube]