A celebrated landmark of Polish cinema, the award-winning Mother Joan of the Angels has been restored from its original materials and is presented in a new high-definition transfer.
Taking the infamous and documented 'demonic possession' of a group of nuns in Loudun, France in 1634 as his starting point (events subsequently also adapted by Ken Russell for his notorious film The Devils), director Jerzy Kawalerowicz created an intensely provocative and visually astonishing film. Aided by an extraordinary performance by Lucyna Winnicka as Mother Joan, the possessed Mother Superior of the convent, and Mieczysław Voit as the troubled priest Father Józef Suryn, Kawalerowicz's masterpiece is a profoundly disturbing exploration of faith, repression, fanaticism and sexuality.
The DVD features the film presented from a new high-definition restoration of the film, supervised by the film's cinematographer Jerzy Wójcik, plus an exclusive new filmed appreciation by writer and film historian Michael Brooke and new essay by Dr David Sorfa.
1961 Cannes Film Festival / Winner: Special Jury Prize
"A sombre and probing study in hysteria and piety... this is one of the very few truly religious films. Lucyna Winnicka shows such viruosity in spanning the extremes of malice and and saintliness" Raymond Durgnat, Films & Filming May 1962
"Kawalerowicz's masterpiece... translating inner turmoil into austere images reminiscent of Dreyer" Village Voice
"Stark, sensual and unsettling... serves to imprint scene after scene in your mind" Movie Mail
"A stylistically elegant and morally outspoken picture" New York Times
Extras
- Presented from a new high-definition restoration of the film, supervised by the film's cinematographer Jerzy Wójcik.
- Newly filmed, exclusive appreciation by writer and film historian Michael Brooke.
- New and improved English subtitle translation.
- 20-page booklet featuring a new essay by author and film lecturer Dr David Sorfa, and Michael Brooke on director Kawalerowicz.
