Sacred Flesh
Encyclopedia
Sacred Flesh is a 1999
British nunsploitation
film. It is set in an indeterminate past, and consists of a series of loosely connected vignettes that depict pseudo-lesbian sexuality and some sado-masochistic activity.
Elizabeth recounts the confessions and fantasies of the nuns, flagellating
herself and becoming excited as she does so: Sister Sarah masturbates
; Sisters Mary and Helena flagellate one another and then have sex
. Sister Catherine is violated by Fathers James and Peter. Finally, Sisters Jane, Teresa and Helen engage in three-way sex
and violate Sister Ann after tying her to a cross. Elizabeth writhes violently in her cell and, as she dies, is tormented by visions of a crucified woman and Christ's beating Sacred Heart.
Mother Elizabeth and an (imagined) demonic Mary Magdalene
(who has relapsed from sainthood, back into the sex worker the church once claimed she was) debate desire and chastity within what seems to be a heavenly antechamber. Mary remarks to Elizabeth that, as her convent is full of repressed female desire, the Mother Superior too is enveloped within this voluptuous fold. Elizabeth details four fantasy vignettes. These are interspersed with conversations between the convent's former abbess, a priest, Abbess Elizabeth, an odd dead zombie
nun and an actress Eileen Daly
playing the spirit of Catechism..
The sex scenes conform to standard pornographic sequencing. They each start simply and culminate in erotic release at the end. There are scenes of the full lesbian
sexual gamut, which extends from episodes of individual nuns' self-stimulation
to non-monogamous lesbian sex to a final nun-centered crucifix-bondage
scene, with copious use of the whip and the rope.
1999 in film
The year 1999 in film involved several noteworthy events and has been called "The Year That Changed Movies". Several significant feature films, including Stanley Kubrick's final film Eyes Wide Shut, Pedro Almodóvar's first Oscar-winning film All About My Mother, science fiction The Matrix, Deep...
British nunsploitation
Nunsploitation
Nunsploitation is a subgenre of exploitation film which had its peak in Europe in the 1970s. These films typically involve Christian nuns living in convents during the Middle Ages. The main conflict of the story is usually of a religious or sexual nature, such as religious oppression or sexual...
film. It is set in an indeterminate past, and consists of a series of loosely connected vignettes that depict pseudo-lesbian sexuality and some sado-masochistic activity.
Synopsis
Sister Elizabeth, the mother superior of a medieval convent, has visions of Mary Magdalene and a skeletal dead nun. Father Henry, the abbot, and his servant Richard are summoned by the convent's abbess to help with the hysteria spreading among the order.Elizabeth recounts the confessions and fantasies of the nuns, flagellating
Whip
A whip is a tool traditionally used by humans to exert control over animals or other people, through pain compliance or fear of pain, although in some activities whips can be used without use of pain, such as an additional pressure aid in dressage...
herself and becoming excited as she does so: Sister Sarah masturbates
Masturbation
Masturbation refers to sexual stimulation of a person's own genitals, usually to the point of orgasm. The stimulation can be performed manually, by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods. Masturbation is a common form of autoeroticism...
; Sisters Mary and Helena flagellate one another and then have sex
Sex
In biology, sex is a process of combining and mixing genetic traits, often resulting in the specialization of organisms into a male or female variety . Sexual reproduction involves combining specialized cells to form offspring that inherit traits from both parents...
. Sister Catherine is violated by Fathers James and Peter. Finally, Sisters Jane, Teresa and Helen engage in three-way sex
Threesome
A threesome is a group of three engaged in the same activity. In relation to a sexual activity a threesome refer to the activity involving three people of any gender or sexual orientation...
and violate Sister Ann after tying her to a cross. Elizabeth writhes violently in her cell and, as she dies, is tormented by visions of a crucified woman and Christ's beating Sacred Heart.
Mother Elizabeth and an (imagined) demonic Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus' most celebrated disciples, and the most important woman disciple in the movement of Jesus. Jesus cleansed her of "seven demons", conventionally interpreted as referring to complex illnesses...
(who has relapsed from sainthood, back into the sex worker the church once claimed she was) debate desire and chastity within what seems to be a heavenly antechamber. Mary remarks to Elizabeth that, as her convent is full of repressed female desire, the Mother Superior too is enveloped within this voluptuous fold. Elizabeth details four fantasy vignettes. These are interspersed with conversations between the convent's former abbess, a priest, Abbess Elizabeth, an odd dead zombie
Zombie
Zombie is a term used to denote an animated corpse brought back to life by mystical means such as witchcraft. The term is often figuratively applied to describe a hypnotized person bereft of consciousness and self-awareness, yet ambulant and able to respond to surrounding stimuli...
nun and an actress Eileen Daly
Eileen Daly
Eileen Daly is an English actress, film producer, writer, model, poet and singer/songwriter. She is also a well-known contemporary scream queen starring in numerous cult movies.-Early life:...
playing the spirit of Catechism..
The sex scenes conform to standard pornographic sequencing. They each start simply and culminate in erotic release at the end. There are scenes of the full lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
sexual gamut, which extends from episodes of individual nuns' self-stimulation
Masturbation
Masturbation refers to sexual stimulation of a person's own genitals, usually to the point of orgasm. The stimulation can be performed manually, by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods. Masturbation is a common form of autoeroticism...
to non-monogamous lesbian sex to a final nun-centered crucifix-bondage
Bondage (BDSM)
Bondage is the use of restraints for the sexual pleasure of the parties involved. It may be used in its own right, as in the case of rope bondage and breast bondage, or as part of sexual activity or BDSM activity.- Private bondage :...
scene, with copious use of the whip and the rope.
Cast
- Sally Tremaine: AbbessAbbessAn abbess is the female superior, or mother superior, of a community of nuns, often an abbey....
Elizabeth, Mother Superior - Moyna Cope: Former Abbess
- Simon Hill: Abbot Henry
- Rachel Taggart: Mary MagdaleneMary MagdaleneMary Magdalene was one of Jesus' most celebrated disciples, and the most important woman disciple in the movement of Jesus. Jesus cleansed her of "seven demons", conventionally interpreted as referring to complex illnesses...
- Eileen DalyEileen DalyEileen Daly is an English actress, film producer, writer, model, poet and singer/songwriter. She is also a well-known contemporary scream queen starring in numerous cult movies.-Early life:...
: CatechismCatechismA catechism , i.e. to indoctrinate) is a summary or exposition of doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament times to the present... - Daisy Weston: Repression
- Moses Rockman : Richard
- Emily BoothEmily Booth (actress)Emily Katherine Booth , also known by her stage name Emily "Bouff" Bouffante, is an English actress and television presenter.- Early life :...
: Williams Girl - Willow: Herself
- Laura Plair: SuccubusSuccubusIn folklore traced back to medieval legend, a succubus is a female demon appearing in dreams who takes the form of a human woman in order to seduce men, usually through sexual intercourse. The male counterpart is the incubus...
- Leasa Carlyon: Peasant
- Louise Linehan: Maid MarianMaid MarianMaid Marian is the wife of the legendary English outlaw Robin Hood. Stemming from another, older tradition, she became associated with Robin Hood only in the 16th century.-History:The earliest medieval Robin Hood stories gave him no female companion...
- Mary Grant: Nun
- Daisy Weston: Nun
- Leasa Carlyon: Nun
- Nicole Bouchet: Jailed Nun
- Louise Ross: Insane Nun
- Cindy Read: Dominatrix Nun
- Michelle ThorneMichelle ThorneMichelle Thorne is a British porn actress, glamour model and erotic actress. Her adult film career began in 1999 with All Amateur: Girls of the UK....
: Sister Sarah - Marc Morris: InquisitorInquisitorAn inquisitor was an official in an Inquisition, an organisation or program intended to eliminate heresy and other things frowned on by the Roman Catholic Church...
- Chris Charlston: Inquisitor
- Hannah Callow: Sister Helena
- Amanda Dawkins: Sister Mary
- Majella Shepherd: Novice Catherine
- Christopher Adamson: Father Peter
- Philip Serfaty: Father James
- Nicole Bouchet: Sister Helen
- Cassandra Bochsler: Sister Teresa
- Anneka Svenska: Sister Ann
- Sarah McLean: Sister Jane
- Cindy Read: Christa