Twisted eroticism masquerading as Faith

This is quite a remarkable film in that I don't think there has ever been such an unnerving presentation of Christian faith depicted as blatant and starkly subliminal eroticism.

Although never stated, the central theme of the film seems to be the fact that Catholic nuns renounce their sexuality and become, 'Brides of Christ'. But Director Ulrich Seidl presents his protagonist as a lonely, middle-aged woman who has clearly taken the notion of 'loving Jesus' to an abnormally disturbing level.

I guess one could view the film as a very mordant, black comedy, but the director imparts real empathy for his characters. He's not mocking Anna Maria, but describing her behavior as it actually is, regardless of how anyone else might see it.

I'm sure most people would find the film positively obscene (especially Christians, and most definitely Catholics), but I found it very thought-provoking. And, I didn't think that the film was anti-Christian, but more of a strange and haunting examination of how Christian Love can be misconstrued into deviant perversion.

"Free to those that can afford it, very expensive to those that can't."