Flavia - The AV Maniacs

Jason Cook · 09-12-2002, 12:24 AM

Any opinions on Flavia the Heretic coming out from Synapse, this is a title I know nothing about. Thanks

Gore?
Nudity?

kit j gavin · 09-12-2002, 05:21 AM

Flavia the Heretic comes highly recommended. The film is, in my humble opinion, a superior historical drama with good quality acting from supporting characters Claudio Cassinelli and Maria Cesares - but in the lead role is Florinda Bolkan, a statuesque beauty of overwealming talent who excels in the lead as Flavia Gaetani.

The film is better than your standard nunspoitation movie. The standard nunsploitation film is, if we are honest, nothing more than a Women In Prison movie - with dirty uniforms replaced by habits, the lesbian warder replaced by the lesbian mother superior, and the confines of a prison by the confines of a convent. The premise behind Flavia is not titilation as many of these films were (even when directed by superior directors like Domenico Paolella) or a cash in on Ken Russel's The Devils - made a couple of years prior. Flavia tries to stick to being historical - but includes scenes of violence, rape, torture and ample female nudity to keep the horror fan interested - but if you enjoy quality acting, a good script, some action and drama AS WELL then I think you will enjoy Flavia.

As has been already sites the lead is played by Florinda Bolkan. Bolkan has always been an extremely fine actress in my opinion - which coupled her noble exotic beauty with a fine talent which really should have made her more recognised rather than just in Italy and by Euro-cult/art-house fans. Sometimes her features did not seem to befit the role she was cast in, however her performance would always make her perfect for the role be it as a frigid english upper-class woman (in Fulci's Lizard in a Woman's Skin, an exotic whore in The Damned, the nun in Flavia, etc) . Flavia Gaetani, the 14th century nun, she plays, might be seen as the first feminist. However the film is set in a time when women were not seen as equals. The film also was made at a time where feminism was only in its infancy - and made by a male director (the late Gianfranco Mingozzi, who made highly considered documentaries) - who's intention was to glean box office takings rather than to make statements about a woman's role in society. It is interesting to note that Bruno Di Geronimo, one of the writers, also wrote Massimo Dallamano's superb What Have You Done to Solange - again very talky but a superior giallo in comparison to some of the set pieces intent on focusing just on bloody death and convoluted motives.

Without giving the storyline away or plot details - I can safely say I think you would enjoy the film. It actually has an arthouse air for what really is pretty much an exploitation film - just very well dressed up. The title it played at UK theaters was Flavia, Priestess of Violence - and this has a stronger more emotional punch without being exploitative, more dramatic than Flavia the Heretic (the export title) - and Flavia the Muslim Nun (translation of the Italian). For me, it is one of this year's releases I am eagerly looking forward to...

Jason Cook · 09-12-2002, 08:54 PM

Thanks for all the info Kit

Edwin Samuelson · 09-13-2002, 11:36 AM

Wow, great summary Kit! I"m really looking forward to this.

kit j gavin · 09-14-2002, 04:51 PM

Gore... there are some nasty scenes - a castration, a savage torture of a nun (played by a Finnish actress who appeared mainly in small roles called Rajka Juri), a monk being impaled, and the final scene is quite a shock. Not giving anything away, about that though.

Nudity lots of naked nuns running around for a while but not glaring and exploititative. Almost portrayed in a dreamlike haze without being erotic.

A few factoids about the cast. Jill Pratt went on to play a victim in watch Me When I Kill/The Cat's Victims. Spiros Focas (or Andros) went on to appear in Rambo III and the Michael Douglas/Kathleen Turner film Jewel on the Nile - as the lead bad guy. And Laura de Marchi, the head of the Tarantula went on to Fulci's The Beyond and having her face burnt off with acid. Anthony Corlan (now Anthony Higgins) is an Irish actor, who had previously appeared in Hammer's Vampire Circus - and still continues to act today.

Troy Howarth · 09-14-2002, 07:37 PM

Corlan/Higgins was also in TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA and refuses to answer any questions about his Hammer appearances. One wonders if he'd like to be reminded of this film.

And Florinda Bolkan - let's not forget her brilliant turn in DON'T TORTURE THE DUCKLING.

Josh McBride · 09-14-2002, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Troy Howarth

And Florinda Bolkan - let's not forget her brilliant turn in DON'T TORTURE THE DUCKLING.

And LIZARD IN A WOMAN'S SKIN!

Johan Melle · 09-15-2002, 09:38 AM

I must say I really, really like this film. I look forward to upgrading my old Dutch videotape, which is kind of worn. The ending is indeed shocking; I found even more unpleasant than the rape scenes in STENDHAL SYNDROME.

Btw, which part does Jill Pratt play? Is she the peasant girl who is raped?

Jason Cook · 09-15-2002, 01:20 PM

I just read the summary of this movie on IMDB.com and now I know the gruesome ending... those bastards!!!

Josh McBride · 09-15-2002, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jason Cook
I just read the summary of this movie on IMDB.com and now I know the gruesome ending... those bastards!!!

Yeah, you gotta be careful at IMDB for that kinda thing.

Anthony Thorne · 09-16-2002, 04:23 AM

FLAVIA is great. I saw the (cut) Redemption UK tape some years ago, and it was still pretty strong stuff. It'll be one of the key Eurocult discs for me this year.

For what it's worth, the ITALIAN MOVIE GODDESSES hardcover mentions that Florinda Bolkan (still appearing in Italian telemovies as of a couple of years ago) put out her own cookbook during the 90's.

kit j gavin · 09-16-2002, 09:50 AM

She still looks fabulous today - at the age of 62. Mike Baronas (a fellow DVD Maniac) and I met her just a few months ago in Rome. She is one of my favourite actresses - beautiful and hugely talented.

She also directed her first feature in her homeland of Brazil a few years back - and is keen to work on her next. More of her stuff deserves to be seen and appreciated.

COLIN MACHRAY · 04-28-2003, 11:29 AM

Matching this with Robs review makes me wonder if this is a worthwhile purchase.

I would be interested in more opinions on this film?

04-28-2003, 12:37 PM

I like it very much. A very good surrealistic piece of nunsploitation. Btw Colin, it seems that Robert didn't like nunsploitations films anyway (he likes Franco

).

vegasnights · 04-28-2003, 12:48 PM

Yeah the ending is the shit. They make cuts on the back of Flavia's thighs, and then they get their fingers in the slice, and peel it back like a rabbit. Strong stuff folks!
Go Flavia it's your birthday! lol

09-12-2002, 12:24 AM	#1
Jason Cook Boo! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: House on the Park on the Edge Posts: 541	Flavia Any opinions on Flavia the Heretic coming out from Synapse, this is a title I know nothing about. Thanks Gore? Nudity?

09-12-2002, 05:21 AM	#2
kit j gavin Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: england / Italy Posts: 11	Flavia the Heretic Flavia the Heretic comes highly recommended. The film is, in my humble opinion, a superior historical drama with good quality acting from supporting characters Claudio Cassinelli and Maria Cesares - but in the lead role is Florinda Bolkan, a statuesque beauty of overwealming talent who excels in the lead as Flavia Gaetani. The film is better than your standard nunspoitation movie. The standard nunsploitation film is, if we are honest, nothing more than a Women In Prison movie - with dirty uniforms replaced by habits, the lesbian warder replaced by the lesbian mother superior, and the confines of a prison by the confines of a convent. The premise behind Flavia is not titilation as many of these films were (even when directed by superior directors like Domenico Paolella) or a cash in on Ken Russel's The Devils - made a couple of years prior. Flavia tries to stick to being historical - but includes scenes of violence, rape, torture and ample female nudity to keep the horror fan interested - but if you enjoy quality acting, a good script, some action and drama AS WELL then I think you will enjoy Flavia. As has been already sites the lead is played by Florinda Bolkan. Bolkan has always been an extremely fine actress in my opinion - which coupled her noble exotic beauty with a fine talent which really should have made her more recognised rather than just in Italy and by Euro-cult/art-house fans. Sometimes her features did not seem to befit the role she was cast in, however her performance would always make her perfect for the role be it as a frigid english upper-class woman (in Fulci's Lizard in a Woman's Skin, an exotic whore in The Damned, the nun in Flavia, etc) . Flavia Gaetani, the 14th century nun, she plays, might be seen as the first feminist. However the film is set in a time when women were not seen as equals. The film also was made at a time where feminism was only in its infancy - and made by a male director (the late Gianfranco Mingozzi, who made highly considered documentaries) - who's intention was to glean box office takings rather than to make statements about a woman's role in society. It is interesting to note that Bruno Di Geronimo, one of the writers, also wrote Massimo Dallamano's superb What Have You Done to Solange - again very talky but a superior giallo in comparison to some of the set pieces intent on focusing just on bloody death and convoluted motives. Without giving the storyline away or plot details - I can safely say I think you would enjoy the film. It actually has an arthouse air for what really is pretty much an exploitation film - just very well dressed up. The title it played at UK theaters was Flavia, Priestess of Violence - and this has a stronger more emotional punch without being exploitative, more dramatic than Flavia the Heretic (the export title) - and Flavia the Muslim Nun (translation of the Italian). For me, it is one of this year's releases I am eagerly looking forward to... Last edited by kit j gavin; 09-14-2002 at 04:43 PM.

09-13-2002, 11:36 AM	#4
Edwin Samuelson Administrator Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 1,253	Wow, great summary Kit! I"m really looking forward to this. __________________ www.myspace.com/dvdmaniacs

09-14-2002, 04:51 PM	#5
kit j gavin Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: england / Italy Posts: 11	Forgot to mention... Gore... there are some nasty scenes - a castration, a savage torture of a nun (played by a Finnish actress who appeared mainly in small roles called Rajka Juri), a monk being impaled, and the final scene is quite a shock. Not giving anything away, about that though. Nudity lots of naked nuns running around for a while but not glaring and exploititative. Almost portrayed in a dreamlike haze without being erotic. A few factoids about the cast. Jill Pratt went on to play a victim in watch Me When I Kill/The Cat's Victims. Spiros Focas (or Andros) went on to appear in Rambo III and the Michael Douglas/Kathleen Turner film Jewel on the Nile - as the lead bad guy. And Laura de Marchi, the head of the Tarantula went on to Fulci's The Beyond and having her face burnt off with acid. Anthony Corlan (now Anthony Higgins) is an Irish actor, who had previously appeared in Hammer's Vampire Circus - and still continues to act today.

09-15-2002, 01:20 PM	#9
Jason Cook Boo! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: House on the Park on the Edge Posts: 541	IMDB I just read the summary of this movie on IMDB.com and now I know the gruesome ending... those bastards!!!

09-12-2002, 08:54 PM	#3
Jason Cook Boo! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: House on the Park on the Edge Posts: 541	Thanks for all the info Kit

09-14-2002, 07:37 PM	#6
Troy Howarth Dull and Scholarly Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Coyote Hills Posts: 26,541	Corlan/Higgins was also in TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA and refuses to answer any questions about his Hammer appearances. One wonders if he'd like to be reminded of this film. And Florinda Bolkan - let's not forget her brilliant turn in DON'T TORTURE THE DUCKLING.

09-15-2002, 09:38 AM	#8
Johan Melle So sweet... so perverse Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Volda, Norway Posts: 650	I must say I really, really like this film. I look forward to upgrading my old Dutch videotape, which is kind of worn. The ending is indeed shocking; I found even more unpleasant than the rape scenes in STENDHAL SYNDROME. Btw, which part does Jill Pratt play? Is she the peasant girl who is raped?

09-16-2002, 04:23 AM	#11
Anthony Thorne Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 402	FLAVIA is great. I saw the (cut) Redemption UK tape some years ago, and it was still pretty strong stuff. It'll be one of the key Eurocult discs for me this year. For what it's worth, the ITALIAN MOVIE GODDESSES hardcover mentions that Florinda Bolkan (still appearing in Italian telemovies as of a couple of years ago) put out her own cookbook during the 90's.

09-16-2002, 09:50 AM	#12
kit j gavin Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: england / Italy Posts: 11	Florinda Bolkan She still looks fabulous today - at the age of 62. Mike Baronas (a fellow DVD Maniac) and I met her just a few months ago in Rome. She is one of my favourite actresses - beautiful and hugely talented. She also directed her first feature in her homeland of Brazil a few years back - and is keen to work on her next. More of her stuff deserves to be seen and appreciated.

04-28-2003, 11:29 AM	#13
COLIN MACHRAY Dyin Aint Much O A Livin! Join Date: May 2002 Location: FORRES, THE STICKS, SCOTLAND Posts: 331	Matching this with Robs review makes me wonder if this is a worthwhile purchase. I would be interested in more opinions on this film?

04-28-2003, 12:37 PM	#14
Jubei Guest Posts: n/a	I like it very much. A very good surrealistic piece of nunsploitation. Btw Colin, it seems that Robert didn't like nunsploitations films anyway (he likes Franco ). Last edited by Jubei; 04-28-2003 at 12:46 PM.

04-28-2003, 12:48 PM	#15
vegasnights Guest Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Vegas Posts: 125	Yeah the ending is the shit. They make cuts on the back of Flavia's thighs, and then they get their fingers in the slice, and peel it back like a rabbit. Strong stuff folks! Go Flavia it's your birthday! lol

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