Cristiana Devil Nun

Free-spirited Cristiana is having a great time in Athens with her boyfriend Luca. On the flight back, the plane gets into serious turbulence. Scared to death, Cristiana promises a nun present that she too will enter the convent if the plane doesn't crash. The pilot manages to stabilize the plane and Cristiana keeps her promise. She separates from Luca and prepares for life in the convent as a novice. There, the painter Rafaele is working on a religious work of art and chooses Cristiana as his muse. He recognizes her inner being and sleeps with her only to abandon her. Cristiana finds comfort in Sister Eleonora, who wants more from Cristiana than just a friendship. Then Luca shows up, wanted by the police. Cristiana hides him in the bell tower, which Eleonora also notices. Despite her newly rekindled love for Luca, Cristiana sticks to her promise and becomes a nun. When Cristiana catches Luca having sex with Eleonora on the day of her vows, she leaves the convent to indulge in a life of debauchery. Like her mother, she becomes a prostitute. The suitors pay top prices to be able to sleep with a nun. More and more, Cristiana loses control over her life. Will Eleonora be able to lead her back on the right path?

Two years after his stylish semi-giallo In the Folds of the Flesh, director Sergio Bergonzelli takes us on a wild trip into the human abyss in Cristiana monaca indemoniata. The film is not a classic nunsploitation, but a wild, sometimes surreal trip about the self-destruction of a young woman torn between her hedonistic worldview and a God-fearing life. She desperately tries to walk the path of virtue, only to succumb to various temptations again and again. Superbly directed and accompanied by a fabulous soundtrack, this is an Italo gem that should definitely be discovered.

Two versions on the Blu-ray by Severin

Titled Cristiana Devil Nun, the film was released by Severin along with Diary of a Cloistered Nun, Images in a Convent and The True Story of the Nun of Monza in a Blu-ray set titled Nasty Habits: The Nunsploitation Collection. There are two versions on the Blu-ray of Cristiana Devil Nun, one being the US version, which is titled the X-Rated version, and an Extended Italian Cut. Each version contains scenes that are missing from the other. There is alternate footage of some scenes. The title Extended Italian Cut may therefore be a bit misleading, rather each version has a slightly different focus. The X-rated version version focuses more on the exploitation elements of the film. It contains more sex scenes, including some hardcore scenes that were quite obviously shot with other actors. The Extended Italian Cut has more plot scenes and focuses more on the inner life of Cristiana. In parts, the X-rated version is longer on plot such as the airplane turbulence at the beginning of the film. Both versions are well worth watching, showing very well how clever editing can change the tone of a film.

According to Severin, the X-rated version is from the only known 35mm theatrical print, while an Italian 35mm theatrical print was used for the Extended Italian Cut. Unfortunately, the Italian film print was in poor condition, so the US theatrical print was used whenever possible. Qualitatively, both versions are very good, with the scenes from the Italian version falling off just a little. Unfortunately, there are very short film tears in the Italian version every now and then, which can easily be seen in the picture and sound jumps. Only a minor drawback, as one can be really happy to see the film in such a good picture quality, plus both versions.

The Nasty Habits: The Nunsploitation Collection box set is worth it for Cristiana Devil Nun alone. The film is phenomenally good and one of the best releases of 2021 according to this author.

Runtimes:

US version 92:04 min.
Italian version 101:42 min.

Comparison between the US version (X-Rated Cut) and the Italian version.

[00:00:00][00:00:00]

Right at the beginning, Luca is seen earlier on the rock in the US. The US has the English opening credits, while the IT has Italian titles fading in.

US: 5 sec.


[00:00:07][00:00:03]

Film tear in IT. Luca jumps around.

US: 3 sec.


[00:00:59][00:00:48]

Cristiana is seen earlier as Luca spins her in his arms.

US: 3 sec.


[00:02:21][00:02:05]

On the plane, the camera moves up on Cristiana and Luca. Both of them are naked.

US: 5 sec.


[00:02:52][00:02:31]

Cristiana and Luca are seen continuing to have sex on the plane as the passenger counts down to zero.

US: 3 sec.


[00:02:59][00:02:34]

In the US, the camera moves up on Cristiana and Luca as the passenger continues to count.

US: 5 sec.


[00:03:50][00:03:21]

The passengers whisper, then a cut to Cristiana and Luca having sex. The pilots discuss with the stewardess what they could do. The next shot in which the passenger turns his head starts earlier.

US: 14 sec.


[00:05:16][00:04:33]

After Luca and Cristiana look out the plane window during the thunderstorm, the passenger is seen playing the guitar. Cristiana whistles unrhythmically into the flute. Cuts to the other passengers. The plane is tilting down. The pilot looks out the window. Another shot of Cristiana trying to play the flute.

US: 33 sec.


[00:06:17][00:05:01]

After the plane was seen descending, two scenes from the cockpit follow in the US, then a cut to the plane.

US: 11 sec.


[00:06:34][00:05:08]

The US cuts to the pilot, then more scenes of the chaos on board. In between, a cut to the plane.

US: 17 sec.


[00:07:07][00:05:23]

After Cristiana pleads for help, there is another cut to the pilot, then to the chaos on board. Cut to the plane and again to the pilot.

US: 17 sec.


[00:07:32][00:05:32]

After Cristiana shouts that she doesn't want to die, there is a cut to the plane. Then to the passengers, the pilot and once again to the plane. Cut to the pilot and the passengers. Cristiana asks to be saved. Cut to the plane. The priest cries out that God will save her. Cut to the plane, the passengers and the pilot.

US: 34 sec.


[00:10:07][00:07:33]

After the nun's prayer, the camera continues to move over the praying sisters in the IT.

In the next scene, Cristiana and her mother are seen earlier. Cristiana tells her that she has promised to become a nun and will now do so.

IT: 28 sec.


[00:10:52][00:08:46]

The scene between Cristiana and her mother continues in the IT. Cristiana continues to walk around the room after her mother says that God gave her intelligence to use. Cristiana asks if her mother has anything else to say to her. Her mother goes to the door. Two nuns show her the way. Her mother tells her that she is now in a fit of defiance and will come back home. She says that it would be a shame to waste Cristiana's abilities. Cristiana closes the door. As she is alone in her room, she looks very unsure.

IT: 1:19 min.


[00:15:03][00:14:15]

After Cristiana watches the hippies and walks through the convent garden, the IT continues to show her being watched by several nuns. A nun asks her if Cristiana is sure she has heard the call of God. She must be sure when she takes her vows. Cristiana says that she has already made her decision.

The US resumes as the plane is seen in retrospect.
IT: 31 sec.


[00:15:33][00:15:16]

In the IT, the scene continues in the convent garden. The nun says to Cristiana that a vow should not be a challenge. Cristiana repeats that she has already made up her mind. The nun says that she has to give up everything and that this life could weigh her down. A cut to the superior follows.

IT: 29 sec.


[00:16:58][00:17:10]

In the US, Cristiana and Rafael's dream scene starts earlier.

In the IT, the previous scene continues even further. After Cristiana says to Rafael that enough is enough, she gets down from the pedestal and wants to leave. Rafael asks if he said something wrong and asks what is wrong with her. Cristiana leaves. A nun goes up to Rafael and says that he should continue working tomorrow.

In the next scene, the sisters put on their night robes while praying.

US: 6 sec.
IT: 52 sec.


[00:24:14][00:25:12]

The scene at the lakeside continues in the US. In another shot, Eleonora is seen fondling Cristiana's breasts.

US: 24 sec.


[00:26:22][00:26:56]

After the nuns talk about Cristiana ringing the bells for the first time, the US shows an explicit scene of Cristiana and Rafael having sex. Since the faces of the actors cannot be seen, they are probably doubles.

US: 30 sec.


[00:27:27][00:27:32]

After sex, Rafael says in the US that he has now earned a break.

US: 4 sec.


[00:29:07][00:29:08]

After Cristiana prays to Jesus, a new scene follows in the IT.

Cristiana comes to Eleonora, who is decorating an altar with flowers in the church.Eleonora says that she is decorating the altar for Cristiana's vows. She asks if she is excited yet. She remembers how the altar was decorated at her wedding. However, her fiancé Gerard did not show up. So she became a nun. Cristiana says that Eleonora has at least answered a real call to become a nun. Eleonora agrees. Cristiana says that God saved her from a mediocre life, which is not granted to everyone. Eleonora should be grateful for that. She says that she is not worthy of Christ's love. Cristiana says that there is a difference between the love of God and that of Gerard, and says that often religious devotion is born of romantic disappointment. The nuns are told that they were called by their will. Cristiana asks how strong Eleonora's will was. She doesn't want to talk about it. Cristiana asks who she would choose if Gerard came back. Eleonora says that people have faults, but God sees the truth. Cristiana takes Eleonora's hand.

IT: 3:07 min.


[00:29:57][00:33:05]

The scene in which Cristiana gets into Eleonora's bed exists in two versions.

In the US, Eleonora says that the two could be open with each other. A friendship compensates for the many hardships of her life. The instinct for affection should not be suppressed. At this, Eleonora pushes up Cristiana's nightgown. The two kiss and caress each other.

In the IT, Eleonora also says that they should be open with each other. Her faith, however, forbids their deeper friendship, no matter how innocent it may be. She suggests compensating for their deprivations through intimacy. The instinct for affection should not be suppressed. Eleonora caresses Cristiana's hand in the process.

US: 48 sec.
IT: 46 sec.


[00:36:27][00:39:34]

In the US, Luca continues to push Cristiana's pants down to kiss her private parts. He moves up to kiss her breasts and then Cristiana on the mouth.

Eleonora wonders where Cristiana might be.

An explicit sex scene between Luca and Cristiana follows.

The IT instead shows an alternate shot of Eleonora missing Cristiana in her bed. A cut to Cristiana and Luca follows.

The versions run parallel again as Eleonora puts on her coat.

US: 1:07 min.
IT: 15 sec.