At the prison of the Convent of Santa Chiara in Bobbio in the 17th century, the Inquisition is holding a trial: Sister Benedetta stands accused of making a deal with the devil and seducing and driving Fabrizio the priest to suicide. His twin Federico is looking for redemption and to give his brother the burial he deserves, but he will only get this if Benedetta confesses her crime.
Centuries pass and the location remains the same: the convent, which was turned into a prison and then abandoned, is inhabited by a mysterious count who withdrew from society years ago, and is called the vampire because he only goes out at night. His peace and quiet, along with his shady business deals, are thrown into jeopardy by the owner of the building, who wants to sell it to a Russian buyer.
The ancient prison of Bobbio, a small town in Val Trebbia in the province of Piacenza, which is very dear to the director, was in operation between the 9th and 15th centuries. Once part of the Abbey of San Colombano, it was then closed and abandoned for decades. It was its dark atmosphere that inspired Bellocchio for this film.
At the prison of the Convent of Santa Chiara in Bobbio in the 17th century, the Inquisition is holding a trial: Sister Benedetta stands accused of making a deal with the devil and seducing and driving Fabrizio the priest to suicide. His twin Federico is looking for redemption and to give his brother the burial he deserves, but he will only get this if Benedetta confesses her crime.
Centuries pass and the location remains the same: the convent, which was turned into a prison and then abandoned, is inhabited by a mysterious count who withdrew from society years ago, and is called the vampire because he only goes out at night. His peace and quiet, along with his shady business deals, are thrown into jeopardy by the owner of the building, who wants to sell it to a Russian buyer.
The ancient prison of Bobbio, a small town in Val Trebbia in the province of Piacenza, which is very dear to the director, was in operation between the 9th and 15th centuries. Once part of the Abbey of San Colombano, it was then closed and abandoned for decades. It was its dark atmosphere that inspired Bellocchio for this film.
Shown in competition at the 72nd Venice International Film Festival. Alternating between the past and the present, the film tells the story of a dark place where a 17th-century nun is bricked into a wall alive and a modern-day count lives in isolation.
