Matka Joanna od aniolów

Matka Joanna od aniolów

1961
Drama, Horror
1h 50m
Set in the 17th century. A convent in a small town is being visited by high-ranking Catholic official trying to exorcise the nun supposedly posessed by demons. A local priest have been burnt for creating this condition by sexual temptation of the nuns, especially the Mother superior who bring on the collective hysteria of the group.... (imdb)
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Matka Joanna od aniolów

1961
Drama, Horror
1h 50m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 68.59% from 311 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(311)
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Rated 03 Jul 2022
85
63rd
Yet another "world cinema masterpiece" that I didn't absolutely love. I'm starting to think I really am as dumb and unsophisticated as the rest of the world thinks I am. Also: THIS ISN'T HORROR.
Rated 06 Jun 2009
65
65th
Think an Ingmar Bergman production of The Exorcist in a 17th century convent. I very much enjoyed Lucyna Winnicka's (Mother Joan) acting, some beautifully choreographed scenes of white-clad nuns moving along in the convent, and most especially the exorcism scenes. Not so much the story or the love as possession allegory which rang false.
Rated 29 Dec 2018
80
92nd
Stark and striking exploration of faith and repression superficially splits the difference between Bergman and Dryer, but Kawalerowicz has plenty of ideas of his own, such as the brilliant use of space in the church scenes (proximity and distance) and the unique way he lingers on the back of nuns' heads, which shapes them into bizarre alien like sculptures. The gloomy atmosphere is effectively sustained, and Winnicka is superb as Mother Joan, a tormented soul torn between damnation and grace.
Rated 16 Feb 2016
80
73rd
Aesthetically pleasing but doesn't get going.
Rated 07 Apr 2021
55
50th
This was slightly disappointing, especially after reading so many good things about it. I actually prefer the director’s previous ”Night Train”. This is a serious film about a subject that in lesser hands could have been done as a straight horror film. I especially admired the first person view cinematography. Biggest issue for me was that the characters remained too distant which made the later events lack emotion. Maybe I should give this another chance later on with altered expectations
Rated 19 Apr 2008
50
34th
I enjoyed it, marginally. The thing is, I don't enjoy people staring at me that much. Exorcisms are cool, though.
Rated 25 Jul 2010
68
57th
You call this ''horror''? Then, watch Bergman's ''Hour of the Wolf''.
Rated 25 Nov 2011
70
72nd
Seems a pretty clear influence of both The Devils and The Exorcist. There are some eerie, chilling scenes aided by restrained and patient camera work. That said, the cinematography on the whole is erratic and struggles to walk the fine line between artful and art-schooly. Additionally, the film could have benefited from a stronger edit -- there's simply no reason for it to be closer to 2 hours than 90 minutes. It starts off with a bang and unfortunately begins to lose steam rather quickly.
Rated 20 Mar 2012
100
97th
Despite of, or maybe because, of being agnostic, I have found that films like this produce an existential dread in me more powerful than many horror films because it has real issues in its core. File alongside Maurice Pialat's Under the Sun of Satan as an incredibly made masterpiece about the existential fear questions that exist in Christianity; now I only wished more of Kawalerowicz's work was available in the UK.
Rated 31 May 2014
90
84th
Lucyna Winnicka gives a powerhouse performance in a work that is, yes, indebted to Bergman, but also in a way anticipates Bergman's more abstract projects, leaving a visionary impression of religion, faith, sex, and sexuality. The cinematography, is at times, breathtaking.
Rated 01 Nov 2015
80
61st
Beautiful imagery, and that counts for a lot in a film like this, but comparisons to The Devils are inevitable and it just can't live up to that insanity or the complexity of its criticisms. Not that it's attempting to, this film is going for something a bit more grounded and spiritual, but that's not as interesting to me.
Rated 16 Feb 2016
79
77th
Very intriguing and atmospheric due to excellent cinematography and clever use of music. Isolated location also makes the story more intimate focussing exclusively on the spiritual or psychological turmoil of the characters. It's measured and contemplative but also ill structured and bit boring in the middle. After a very strong and captivating opening the story gets bogged down & doesn't really move forward until the very end. It's very truthful & intense at times but lacks dramatic momentum.
Rated 05 Feb 2019
78
89th
It's kind of shocking to realise that this was made several years prior to SIMON OF THE DESERT (and a decade before Ken Russell's film, which I've not seen), but with much more controlled artistry (and in truth, Buñuel's ending wouldn't have been out of place here either). Really very imaginative and effective in all aspects. As exorcism movies go, this is almost certainly the pinnacle.
Rated 10 Feb 2021
85
78th
Madre Joana dos Anjos estreava há 60 anos na Polônia. https://letterboxd.com/ladyspiggott/film/mother-joan-of-the-angels/
Rated 27 Oct 2022
80
68th
This is often classified as a horror film, but it pretty clearly isn't. Although it's based on the same historical incident as Ken Russell's "The Devils" (and depicts the aftermath of the events in that film), it's a radically different film dealing with different concerns. It's a key film in the transition away from State-mandated social realism in 1950's Poland, in this film's case moving to a far more subjective and almost anarchistic view of spirituality and morality.
Rated 26 Nov 2023
70
41st
Some great imagery and well-edited sequences (the sound editing is especially impressive) but I have to admit I found a lot of it quite silly and struggled to understand what was happening. Probably makes more sense if you’re religious?

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