Story Of A Cloistered Nun sits at the more dramatic and moodier end of the nunsploitation genre. The early 70s film features moments of fleeting nudity and violence, but largely it’s a study of denied love, hypocrisy, and (emotional) cruelty- with the whole thing been topped off with a graceful/ classy string-based score. Here as part of 88 Films Italian collection is a Blu-Ray release of the film- taking in an HD scan of the picture, a commentary track, and a few other extras.

Story Of A Cloistered Nun (aka Storia Di Una Monaca Di Clausura, Diary of a Cloistered Nun, Unholy Convent, Love Story Of A Nun) is from the year 1973. It was a joint Italian, French, and West German production. The film was directed Foggia, Puglia, Italy Domenico Paolella, and if we are to believe the just-before-end credits texts is based on a true story. Between the 1940s and late 1970s, Paolella had forty-one features to his name- these go from musical/ period drama Cavalcade Of Song (1953), to swashbuckling adventure Pirates Of The Coast (1960), tame WIP Women Of Devil's Island (1962), and action crime thriller Stunt Squad (1977).

The one-hour and thirty-eight-minute film is based in 15^th century Europe.  and opens with two babies being placed on a grand bed- as the camera pans back we see two families dressed in grand period fare. We find out the two families are agreeing that the babies will marry when of age.

We then flash forward some years to meet the now grown-up baby Carmela (Eleonora Giorgi)- a curly blonde-haired woman who is secretly meeting with her lower-class lover Giuliano (Antonio Falsi). She is summoned by her stern mother and father-  telling them she won’t marry her selected suitor, so as a result, she is sent to a convent.

She is stripped of her jewellery, fine clothes, and the flowers in a pig-tailed hair. Then thrown in thirty days of confinement- with just a candle to keep lit, and one bowl of boiled beans per day to eat. This she finds very difficult- with at points her sanity nearly breaking.

As the film unfolds there’s a fair bit of mistrust and backstabbing going on between the sisters. As well as nighttime liaisons with either a small group trying on finery, one-to-one sisters meet-ups, and even a nobleman coming to have an affair with one of the nuns.

As mentioned at the beginning of this review- there is little sleazy or violence on display- with only a few glances of female nudity, a nude back whipping, and a few bloody moments. The main focus here is telling Carmela’s story as she struggles with her time in the convent.

Acting wise Giorgi is excellent as the noblewoman thrown into the cloth. The surrounding cast is all ok to good- most notable being Suzy Kendall who La Madre Superiora- who may/ may not be a friend to Carmela. And Tino Carraro, as the cruel and callous father of Carmela. The film is scored with a lush and graceful string score by Piero Piccioni.

The covenant itself looks fairly stagey/set-like- though is moodily designed with shadowy and candle-lit corridors, small slitted wooden doorways, and a tree that changes seasons in the convent’s courtyard.

The film is certainly well made and realised- with the story/ plight of Carmela keeping you held throughout- though as mentioned earlier this is way more about drama, than anything really exploitive.

This recent region B Blu-Ray takes in an HD scan- this is clear and balanced, even in the more shadowy and nighttime shots. On the extras side, we get three new things – a commentary track,  a interview, and a visual essay.

So, the first extra here is the commentary track from Italian cinema experts Troy Howarth and Eugenio Ercolani. This is well-researched, most interesting, and chatty affair.  They open by commenting on the films' gorgeous score and how the film is lavishly presented. They mention The Nun And The Devil (1973) the previous nunsploitation film by Domenico Paolella- which had many of the same crew.  They point out notable actors in the opening scene, and we find out that this was the scene debut of lead actress Eleonora Giorgi- she went on to become a household name in the 80’s due to her roles in Italian comedies. They discuss how the film revolves around a heartbreaking issue- a young women been sent to the cloth without a choice- which was very prevalent at this time in Italian history. They discuss how the film is a pure example of the nunsploitation genre- as it nods towards its trope, yet never fully drives into the sleaziness of it all. Later on, they discus Suzy Kendall role in the film- declaring it as one of her best performances and talk about her other notable roles- as well as finding out she was married to comedian/ jazz musician Dudley Moore. They discuss the nunsploitation genre in general- talking about how it’s still around today. All in all, a worth a play track.

Next there’s Story of an Uncloistered Martine (22.25) which is a shot on film/ subtitled interview with actress Martine Brochard. And Novices and Malices (31.35) a video essay from Andrea Meroni- where he talks about the origins of the nunsploitation genre, before looking at those behind Paolella’s two films in the genre Story Of A Cloistered Nun and The Nun And The Devil. And a trailer.

Don’t be put off by the nunsploitation tag of Story Of A Cloistered Nun- as there is really nothing overtly smutty or exploitative about the film and really is best seen as a well-made and well-acted period drama. This new 88 Films release severs up a good HD scan, and a selection of interesting extras.