original Italian title LA VERA STORIA DELLA MONACA DI MONZA [True Story of the Nun of Monza]

director: Bruno Mattei (as Stefan Oblowky)
starring: Zora Kerova · Mario Cutini · Paola Corazzi · Tom Felleghy · Paola Montenero

      

Here is one of two nunsploitation films directed by Bruno Mattei (his OTHER HELL followed a year later). This one draws on the notorious true story of Sister Virginia Maria de Leyva, circa the early 17th Century. For Bruno Mattei's exploitative version of the legend, Sister Virginia becomes a nun at the Monza Convent after complications with her family estate. She soon discovers the place is a hotbed of lust, sin and depravity (including numerous Feasts of the Devil). But the pious Sister Virginia also wields much leverage with the Church hierarchy [as she still holds title to the wealthy de Layva estate and will inherit when her father dies]. As a result, she is selected to become the new Mother Superior when old Sister Imbersaga passes away. Her trouble begins when she chooses the devious lesbian Sister Benedetta to be her assistant. At that point, debauched priest Don Arrigone and the lecherous Giampaolo Osio concoct a plan to rape Sister Virginia and bring unbridled corruption back into the convent.

This is an extremely rare film to find uncut [usually the explicit 'horse-mating' scenes are missing in conventional prints and some of the more graphic the sex segments are edited]. But here it is, the fully uncut European print, with optional English subtitles. Director Bruno Mattei is a familiar name among cult fans. He was an Italian filmmaker who often used the pseudonym Vincent Dawn after finding success with his 1980 zombie film HELL OF THE LIVING DEAD. Over the years, this editor-turned-director flirted with a wide variety of productions. But, interestingly, Mr Mattei's best films come from the post-Italian-boom, in the 2000s (i.e, BELLE DA MORIRE [Beautiful But Deadly], THE TOMB, PRIVE [Lacking], SNUFF TRAP, ISLAND OF THE LIVING DEAD). He would die from a brain tumor in May, 2007, at age 75.