kosmasp Let's get the obvious out in the open right away: She'll have nun of that. Never gets old, though if we're talking old nun, she does get old. Also doesn't want the other nuns to have fun. Well she won't become Cyndi Lauper anytime soon then. But the nuns are resourceful and find "wood" in the strangest places ... both literally and metaphorically speaking if you know what I mean.If you don't let me tell you that this is sleaze at its finest (if that's your cup of tea of course). Still it does drag and it feels very episodic with all the nuns and their different ways to "heaven" (or climax that is). If I make this sound better than the actual experience of you watching this will be, don't blame me. I had to write something and describing penetration scenes or torture (physical or other kind) isn't the way I wanted to go. Suffice to say, this is not for any church goers .. well not the "right" ones

Frank Damage While it's essentially a given misconception that many cinephiles drawn to specific and sub genres of horror and exploitation films (especially those made in the early days of the respective genre; ie. the '70s) must frequently trade quality in order to satiate their "sordid desires," I've seen enough films in the nunsploitation category to say with a definite certainty that "this is not true....in MOST cases." However in this particular instance the aforementioned cliché could be considered fact. "Behind Convent Walls" (as it is known in English speaking countries) is one of the biggest waste of film-stock I've ever seen.The movie is almost entirely devoid of: 1) a plot of any kind, 2) decent acting, 3) an intelligible script, or cohesive a storyline 4) as well as capable directing. Not to mention, the editing seems to have been done by a mindless lummox with his eyelids sewn shut, who was randomly swinging a meat cleaver in order to make many of the cuts.Now while some might be praying my initial statement bears some relevancy here, I can assure you that not even "the hand of God" could mask the lack of any negotiable "balance" or exchange, as it were. There is a single graphic scene that could be considered a blessing of redemption, but the remainder is little more than a few glimpses of breasts peppered (quite infrequently I might add) throughout the mainstay of this tediously boring abomination.If self-flagellation is what you're into, then sitting through this damnation might be what you're looking for. Though I wouldn't count on either Jesus, or the Devil giving you any "brownie" points for watching it. They'd probably BOTH condemn you for your (poor, lack of) taste, after such a confession.

MARIO GAUCI This is one of the more notable nunsploitation films (shot in Italy), which was rushed into production after a proposed project starring Monica Vitti fell through. Being the Borowczyk fan that I am (even if about a third of his work that I've watched has proved disappointing to a degree!), I had wanted to purchase the R2 DVD ever since it was released but kept postponing it for a couple of reasons - one, because it's only available in an English-dubbed version (though it's not too bad as these things go) and, two, the somewhat prohibitive price (in fact, it's only while in London recently that I managed to find the most affordable copy, albeit still not cheap at $25!).As is to be expected from this Polish film-maker, we're treated to an artier kind of erotica (some of the sex surprisingly involving Ligia Branice, Mrs. Borowczyk herself!) - with lush soft-focus cinematography by the renowned Luciano Tovoli. However, despite being a Stendhal adaptation, Borowczyk here pays little regard for the usual necessities of plot and characterization (in fact, apart from Branice and future muse Marina Pierro, the nuns are virtually indistinguishable from one another): this semi-improvised approach does render the whole somewhat inconsequential (especially in comparison to some of his other work), to say nothing of aloof - which eventually detracts from the impact the tragedy at the end ought to have (despite involving murder, a couple of suicides and a determined effort by the higher echelons of the church to hush up the affair altogether)! Even so, the director's hand is unmistakable throughout, inevitably reaping the occasional reward - not only his customary fetishizing of props (such as the controversial and oft-censored scene in which the face of Christ is carved on a piece of wood, then utilized by one of the nuns as a dildo!) but also his fervent attack on figures of authority, class structure and especially the repressiveness of Catholicism (linking the film with, among others, such earlier Borowczyk fare as BLANCHE [1971], IMMORAL TALES [1974] and THE BEAST [1975]).

Infofreak This is the fourth movie by Walerian Borowczyk that I've seen (after 'Goto, the Island Of Love', 'The Beast', and 'Dr Jekyll and His Women', all of which I highly recommend), and the more I see of his work, the more I like it, but also the less I understand where he is coming from. Jess Franco and Jean Rollin were blurring the boundaries between art and exploitation movies around the same time as Borowczyk, but they are both a little easier to get a handle on. What Borowczyk was aiming for in 'Behind Convent Walls' is difficult to work out, but it's fascinating viewing nevertheless. I suppose "nunsploitation" is an apt description of the movie, but it is quite unlike other examples of that genre I have seen that were made after the success of Ken Russell's 'The Devils' (e.g. 'The Sinful Nuns Of Saint Valentine' or my personal favourite 'Flavia The Heretic'). Borowczyk's approach is very different from those other movies, and 'Behind Convent Walls', despite it's most notorious scene (more on that in a minute), is quite tame compared to the eye-popping quasi-porn of 'The Beast'. This movie is mainly silly and smutty and not all that explicit as you would imagine from the title and Borowczyk's reputation. There are lots of shots of half naked nuns or nuns in their undies cavorting around,etc.etc. and it is even quite innocent for the most part. The most notorious scene in the movie, which has gone down in exploitation movie legend, is often censored from most prints (but fortunately not the version I watched), and involves an amorous nun using a homemade dildo with the face of Jesus stuck on it. It's quite a surprise when it happens, and unlike most of the rest of the movie. In some ways I was disappointed with 'Behind Convent Walls', but in other ways it was better than I expected. If that sounds confused, yes it is, but it's an honest reflection of how I feel about Borowczyk's perplexing work. He's without doubt one of the most interesting and unusual directors of all time, and his movies will make you question your preconceived ideas of what a movie can/should be. Cynical smut peddler or misunderstood maker of art movies? You decide. I'm still thinking about it!