So almost as if there was some sort of cosmic plan, The Devils came into my life in all sorts of ways over the last couple of months. First of all I heard Mark Kermode talking about it a lot, like a lot, the exact reason I can't recall, but I don't suppose he really needs a reason, he loves it. Second of all my Dad brought it up in conversation one day, again, out of the blue, just because the thought had occurred to him. He told me it was excellent and that I should watch it. I also gather he is a Ken Russell fan and has made me want to watch more of his films. Then of course I learned that there was to be the first ever release of The Devils on DVD, and the first time the original cut has been available for decades. So I thought to myself, I should probably buy that DVD when it comes out, it's a BFI release as well, and I do feel like I should support them more. So I bought it, at a time when I should have been saving my money I bought a new release DVD. You know what? I actually don't regret it one jot.
I wasn't sure exactly what to expect from the film, I knew of the controversy, that there was still footage missing that Russell had originally wanted kept in, that was deemed blasphemous by some who had seen it, and not by others (tellingly one of the latter includes an American Priest interviewed in the extra features). Some feel that the footage that was left in is also blasphemous because it deals with religious people doing things that they really shouldn't be doing.
The whole thing is based on documented events that really occurred in France. A nunnery seemed to become overrun with madness soon after Father Grandier (Oliver Reed) came to town. Father Grandier had recently upset the Cardinal by refusing the demolition of the city of Loudun's walls. He felt that their destruction would signal the end of the city and as long as he was around, so too would the walls. The Nuns called in an exorcist to rid them of the demons that they were convinced were making them have sexual thoughts and act in an inappropriate manner. However, during the exorcisms (which are tantamount to public rape by the looks of it), they accuse Father Grandier of setting the demons that possessed them loose. He is then put on trial and executed for his crimes against God.
Father Grandier at this time was dealing with his own personal demons, he had known many women (biblically speaking), and was struggling with a faith that would not allow someone to feel love this way. He meets a woman who he marries, and during this time he becomes more religious and filled with faith, his faith becomes purer as the nuns faith runs wild. He is obviously being set up by the Cardinal (who has political ambition) and has nothing to do with the nuns, who he actually hasn't met. The modern theories surrounding their collective madness involve a hallucinogenic that can be found on a popular bread at the time which when stored in the wrong way can turn quite badly.
The film is insane, like insane insane. You've got these long sequences of madness going on in as the film progresses. I understand that this was pretty much a Ken Russell Hallmark, and boy is it effective in this setting. You've also got these absolutely wonderful Derek Jarman Sets, the nunnery in particular I found stunning, with these great white brick walls, it is somehow both historically sound and futuristic all rolled into one, and these sets provide the film with a strong visual style.
Oliver Reed as Father Grandier is the best I have ever seen Oliver Reed, I think it was Russell who said that the camera simply loved him, and he was right, this seems to be the role he was born to play - he also has a great moustache, which is just a great addition to a fantastic performance. But then everyone is great here, Vanessa Redgrave as the head of the nunnery, the first one to go insane, both strict and a rule breaker she is mad, but you can see her struggling with her actions as they unfold.
I can't actually convey how much I enjoyed this film, from start to finish it was incredible. It makes me all the sadder that Ken Russell died to recently. It is a treat both visually and audibly (the soundtrack is a wonderful avant thing too), the story is both insane, and scarily prescient, looking at brainwashing, at a time when the media tell us what to think every day of our lives, we get told who the bad guys are, who the good guys are, and we never question it. In one of the interviews in the special features of this film, someone describes Ken Russell as having Bad Taste, and Thank Goodness for that. I couldn't agree more, because this film is as tasteless as they come, and I can't imagine it any other way. Incredible, if you've not seen it, please do, and with an open mind.
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