Behind Convent Walls (also known as Intérieur d'un Couvent) is a controversial 1978 French-Italian film directed by Walerian Borowczyk. The film follows the story of a young nun named Suzanne who enters a convent and discovers that its inhabitants are living in a world of sexual repression and abuse of power.
The protagonist, Suzanne, arrives at the convent with the intent to become a nun. She is initially skeptical of what goes on behind the convent walls, but is quickly welcomed into the fold of devout religious sisters. However, Suzanne soon comes to realize that the convent's leaders and leading figures are corrupt and use their power to perpetrate abuse and cover up misdeeds.
The handsome priest and the abbess are shown to be in cahoots in enforcing strict rules, and both are portrayed as being fanatically religious and puritanical. The priest is also shown to be sexually interested in the women of the convent and often engages in voyeuristic behavior. The abbess, meanwhile, is determined to keep the women in line and make sure they don't stray from the faith or their vows of chastity.
One particularly unstable nun, Sister Theresa, manages to poison herself and several other novitiates in an attempt to escape the oppressive environment of the convent. The church authorities, however, manage to cover it up to keep the institution's reputation intact.
Behind Convent Walls is notable for its explicit portrayal of female sexuality, including scenes of lesbianism and masturbation, as well as its exploration of the corruption and abuse of power within the Catholic Church. The film was highly controversial upon its release and remains a provocative and powerful examination of a subject that continues to be taboo and fraught with controversy.