Flavia the Heretic

Marketed as standard convent sleaze and considerably angrier and more political than it needed to be. A noblewoman forced into a convent in medieval Italy rebels against the men and the Church controlling her, eventually joining an invading Muslim army against them, and the violence builds to a harrowing finale.

Gianfranco Mingozzi makes real arguments about faith, patriarchy and female autonomy under the exploitation surface, and the film does not flinch from where its rage leads. It is grim, beautiful and much smarter than the genre average.

The nunsploitation film with the most on its mind, and the strongest stomach required.