Lust, power, and betrayal simmer behind convent walls in this decadent nunsploitation drama.
STORY OF A CLOISTERED NUN
She escaped an arranged marriage, only to enter a prison of forbidden passion.
Refusing an arranged marriage, young aristocrat Carmela is sent to a convent. Her arrival intensifies the power struggle between the debauched nun Elizabeth, and the stern but evil Mother Superior, as both are smitten by Carmela's beauty.
Quick Answer
Story of a Cloistered Nun is a 1973 Germany-Italy-France drama film directed by Domenico Paolella about a young aristocrat forced into a convent after refusing an arranged marriage, where she faces degradation, forbidden love, and rivalry among the nuns.
Programmer's Pick
Story of a Cloistered Nun is nunsploitation at its most decadent—equal parts scandal and spectacle. If your tastes run to power plays, sacrilege, and the occasional flogging, this convent’s doors are wide open. Just don’t expect much prayer and penance.
— SassyFlix Programmer
Overview
Details & Specs
- Director
- Domenico Paolella
- Writers
- Domenico Paolella, Tonino Cervi
- Release
- 1973
- Runtime
- 1h 37m
- Country
- Germany, Italy, France
- Language
- Italian
- Genres
- Drama
- Also Known As
- The Unholy Convent, Der Nonnenspiegel, The Diary of a Closeted Nun, Storia di una monaca di clausura (original title)
Why This Matters
This film is an example of the nunsploitation genre and claims inspiration from real 16th-century events at the Certosa di San Giacomo, reflecting the era's fascination with controversial religious themes in Italian cinema.
Cast & Crew
View all →
Why Cult
The arrival of Carmela in the convent ignites a fierce rivalry between a lascivious nun and a malevolent Mother Superior, both vying for dominance.
Rampant lesbian desire and illicit affairs fester beneath the convent's pious facade, fueling jealousy and betrayal.
Expect flagellation, humiliation, and sacrilege—this film wallows in the signature provocations of the nunsploitation genre.
Set against the backdrop of religious ritual and aristocratic scandal, the film offers a sumptuous twist on historical drama.
Scene Gallery
Questions from the Vault
When was Story of a Cloistered Nun released? +
Story of a Cloistered Nun was released in 1973.
Who directed Story of a Cloistered Nun? +
Story of a Cloistered Nun was directed by Domenico Paolella.
How long is Story of a Cloistered Nun? +
Story of a Cloistered Nun has a runtime of 97 minutes.
What genre is Story of a Cloistered Nun? +
Story of a Cloistered Nun is a drama film, with strong elements of sexploitation and nunsploitation.
Trailers & Clips
