Richard Brzostek - 08/11/2006 
"Matka Jonna od Aniolow" (Mother Joan of the Angels) is a creepy film about exorcism in the 17th century. A convent of nuns is troubled by demonic possession, including the Mother Superior, who is possessed by eight demons. The four local priest/exorcists summon the help of another priest specializing in exorcism to help them. What he finds at the convent will be the test of his lifetime as he tries to help them.
The priest feels sympathetic and concern for helping others, but his efforts to exercise the demons are not instantly successful. In his labors, he begins to develop affection for Mother Joan. The priest begins a journey of self-reflection and brings us along on his meditative search for meaning. My favorite part of this search was when he consults a Rabbi, and their philosophical discussion that follows. The way I interpreted the deeper meaning of this movie was that love is the answer.
The fact that "Matka Jonna od Aniolow" (1960) was made in black and white gives it an intensely creepy feeling. There isn't anything gruesome shown, but the nature of the story itself, the spooky feeling of the convent, and the behavior of the possessed nuns create an amazing effect of uneasiness. One could easily place the film in the category of horror based on the suspenseful nature of the film. "Matka Jonna od Aniolow" is an intriguing story and a work of art. |
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