The Convent

1995 • 87 minutes

About this movie

Determined to prove that Shakespeare was actually a Spaniard, professor Michael Padovic (John Malkovich) journeys with his wife, Helene (Catherine Deneuve) to an ancient Portuguese convent to seek validation of his theory. Baltar, the convent's eccentric guardian, is utterly captivated by Helene and manages to divert Michael's attention by introducing him to the monastery's beautiful young archivist. Filled with jealousy, Helene uses Baltar (who reveals himself to be the devil) for her own diabolical purposes, triggering a series of shocking, unimaginable events. This mysterious, eerie and romantic tale by Portuguese director Manoel de Oliveira, borrows its key dramatic elements from Goethe's classic Faust but adds many surprising twists.