Anchoress (1993)

Recommended

UK/Belgium

Feature Film

Director: Chris Newby

Writers: Judith Stanley-Smith, Christine Watkins

Cinematographer: Michel Baudour

Cast: Natalie Morse, Eugene Bervoets, Toyah Willcox, Pete Postlethwaite, Christopher Eccleston, Michael Pas, Brenda Bertin

Set in the 14th century and based on an actual incident, Chris Newby’s sensual, gorgeously photographed curio depicts the strange tale of Christine Carpenter – a puzzling, ethereal young woman – who claimed to have sighted the Virgin, and volunteered to become an anchoress, walling herself off (literally) from the outside world, much to the delight of the pious local priest and the chagrin of her decidedly earthy mother. Iain.Stott