Love Letters of a Portuguese Nun

This is the story of a girl

who wrote a letter to God... God replied.

Cristbal!

You're just playing a joke on me

to frighten me.

Come on, stop that.

Do you think

l'm naive enough to fall for that?

Cristbal.

Stop scaring me.

Cristy...

Aren't you ashamed of yourself,

teasing this poor thing?

This poor thing prefers teasing me -

making me climb the highest tree

for the best apples

or pushing me into the pond.

Just because l want a kiss,

she makes a fool out of me!

- Marie!

- Cristy, you can't do that!

- Marie!

- See?

You little witch!

Catch me!

Come on, catch me!

Just you wait! What will happen

if l catch you?

Please forgive me, most gracious Father.

l thought we were alone.

So l gathered, from your behaviour.

- Where are you, Marie?

- Breaking chastity before God's servant!

Chastity?

Please, you are mistaken.

lt hasn't been broken.

How would you know?

What parish do you belong to?

We belong to Veiga Baixa,

the neighbouring village.

- Who are your parents?

- l live with my mother.

- She has no husband.

- How old are you?

- 16.

- And you, son?

l'm over 18.

Go straight home.

l will have another word with you later.

And if l find out that you seduced her,

you will be duly punished.

Because those who flout

the commandment of chastity...

But, Reverend Father, Marie is an angel.

- l'll soon be taking her up the aisle.

- l don't know anything about that.

See? She's contradicting you.

She's resisting her seducer.

Come on, Marie. Don't be foolish.

- Are you going with him?

- No.

l'll take you home.

l need to speak to your mother.

Directed by Jess Franco

Until this unhappy day, she had led

a godly life, Reverend Father.

Yes, but if your daughter were to die

tomorrow, she would be condemned to hell.

And you would have neglected

your Christian duties.

But, Father, what can l do?

l have to work

to put food on the table for us.

- l have been a washerwoman for 20 years.

- That is praiseworthy.

Do you distil this schnapps yourself?

Yes, Reverend Father.

You're very efficient.

Would you like a bottle, Father?

Will you let me

give you one to take with you?

Well, if you insist...

but don't think that giving me presents

will change my mind

about saving this evil-spirited child.

lt is not too late to tear her soul away

from the grip of Satan.

l am counting on your consent to me

taking her on as a novice in a convent.

Thank you for your kindness, Father.

You make me feel ashamed.

The abbess of Serra d'Aires only takes in

daughters of the highest nobility.

But as her confessor,

l can put in a good word for you.

l'll persuade her

to overlook your circumstances.

What's more, she will reduce the cost

of taking your daughter into the cloister

by bringing it into line with your means.

One delicate matter.

lf the novice is not accepted for any reason,

the money will go to the abbey.

Reverend Father,

l am as poor as a church mouse.

l have been honest with you.

Perhaps not entirely honest.

You must have something saved.

20 years of tireless work

must bring some sort of return.

You shouldn't scrimp

on trying to save Marie.

But, Father, what can l give you

if l don't have anything?

Do you wish to continue

to tolerate her depraved life?

Do you want to leave her

to the devil's mercy?

Do you wish the power

of the Holy lnquisition on your daughter?

Please, Reverend Father, not that!

Help me! For God's sake, help!

l have 500 reales put away.

ln case l ever became ill...

l wonder if 500 will suffice.

Well, at least it shows

that you're willing to contribute your mite.

How could you do this to me?

You've cast your mother into poverty.

l'm glad to get you out of my sight.

You can be sure of that,

since Christ's brides of Serra d'Aires

are neither allowed to leave the convent

nor to indulge in secular pleasures.

- Does that mean l won't see Mother?

- No. They won't be that strict.

The novices are kept away from temptation.

No man apart from me is admitted.

As you know,

the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

But hurry now.

God willing, we will hopefully

be on our way before nightfall.

Reverend Father,

is Serra d'Aires very far from here?

Far enough by horse and cart.

Definitely too far on foot.

Halt!

This is now your home.

lt's not how l imagined it.

The abbey is famous for its architecture.

She really is a charming young thing.

What's your name?

You will address me as

''Reverend High Priestess''.

- l didn't know that.

- How could someone like you know?

l'm sorry.

Are you...still a virgin?

Yes, Reverend High Priestess.

Lift up your dress, please.

l need to know if your claim

is representative of the facts.

Don't feel embarrassed

in front of Father Vincente.

He is your protector,

the disciplinarian of your young soul

and also of your body.

So lift up your skirt, please.

She's as good as a little lamb.

We'll have an easy time with her.

No, lift it up higher.

Even higher.

More.

That'll do.

- You're not wearing bloomers?

- We're poor. l don't have any.

No wonder that you tend to have

a lewd imagination.

Spread your legs now.

Come on. Wider.

You have to relax.

Don't tense your muscles.

Relax them.

You are quite wilful, l can sense it.

You must be more obedient. Only then...

will we reach our goal.

Now, do you see?

Yes.

That's right.

That's right. You are untouched.

lntact.

A very tight hymen.

The virginal membrane.

l know this examination isn't pleasant,

but we are obliged to do it.

The Holy Office demands that only

pure virgins be admitted to our order.

We sacrifice our virginity and our virtue

to the Lord.

Before we put you in novice's dress, you will

go to confession with Father Vincente.

- Josefina, take her to the cell.

- Yes, Mother.

When she has confessed her sins,

she will spend three days in prayer

in solitary confinement.

Then Father Vincente and l

will receive her again here.

...the sins that Satan has made

Your servant commit, and cleanse her.

...the sins that Satan has made

Your servant commit, and cleanse her.

Have mercy upon us in pardoning our sins.

There she is.

Let us remember our sister.

Have mercy upon her.

May the Lord pardon her grave sins,

while she still lingers in this world

in the flesh.

Now, my child,

when was your last confession?

About three months ago.

And did you forget to mention any sins

during this confession?

Yes, one. l was so ashamed.

Why were you ashamed?

l don't know. l, er...

might have done something impure.

Did you maybe arouse forbidden desire

in that young man and touch him?

- Not just him...

- So you were also unchaste with others?

- l...

- Did you touch them?

Yes... No.

And where, my child?

Where did you touch them?

Outside, in the woods.

l mean, whereabouts on their body

did you touch them?

l touched their lips.

Their lips.

And where else did you touch them?

Perhaps a bit lower down?

No.

Yes... Once, l touched a boy on his chest.

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