Hell Takes the Form of State Repression in 1971’s “The Devils”
Ken Russell’s film designed by Derek Jarman, newly released in a 4K restoration, mirrors the state-led horrors unfolding outside our windows.
In 1971, Ken Russell's "The Devils" emerged as a provocative film exploring the themes of state repression and religious fanaticism. Adapted from Aldous Huxley's 1952 novel and John Whiting's 1961 play, the movie is set in the French town of Loudun in 1634, following the aftermath of the Huguenot Rebellions.
Opening with a scene of King Louis XIII performing on a stage, the film shifts to Loudun, where Ursuline nuns reportedly experienced demonic possession. The hysteria surrounding these events is attributed to Urbain Grandier, a secular priest accused of causing the hysteria and subsequently executed. Grandier's trial and execution serve as a commentary on a larger evil - the totalitarian forces that ravaged the town following his execution.
At the time of its creation, Russell himself was a devout Catholic, secure in his faith. However, the film's highly sexual depictions of nuns, priests, and a fallen crucifix, which becomes a sex object during an exorcism-orgy, became a source of controversy. Despite his personal beliefs, Russell viewed "The Devils" as a political film, focusing on the themes of brainwashing and state takeover.
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