Banned British film to be released after 23 years

London: A film titled ‘Visions of Ecstasy’ has been banned in Britain for being blasphemous will be released in its original, uncut form after more than two decades. The 1989 production was considered so shocking that the Government even fought a successful battle at the European Court of Human Rights to uphold the ban, a leading daily has reported. But the film is now to be released in its original, uncut form after the British Board of Film Classification overturned its original decision.

The low-budget, arthouse production is about St Teresa of Avila, a sixteenth century Spanish nun and mystic who had visions of Christ, which lasted almost uninterrupted for two years. The 18-minute film is an interpretation of these visions and includes sexual scenes involving St Teresa and another woman, who represents her psyche. These are intercut with shots of the nun lying on Christ, who is still nailed to the Cross, and caressing him. PTI