Flavia the Heretic

Originally titled "Flavia, la monaca musulmana" (Flavia, the Muslim Nun), this 1974 Italian-French co-production was directed by Gianfranco Mingozzi, who co-wrote the screenplay with Raniero Di Giovanbattista. Shot in Italian and running about 100 minutes, the drama is associated with the controversial "nunsploitation" genre of its era and was released under various titles abroad, including "Castigata – Die Gezüchtigte" in Germany.

Set in the Apulia region of southern Italy during the Ottoman campaign against Otranto, the story follows Flavia, a young nun who rebels against patriarchal oppression and the suffering she has endured. Her search for freedom and justice leads her to side with Ahmed, the commander of the besieging forces, but her revolt spirals into a cycle of violence that ends in her death. Florinda Bolkan stars alongside María Casarès, Anthony Higgins, Claudio Cassinelli, and Guido Celano.