Temptation

Set in a political prison in post-war Poland, the story revolves around the sexual and spiritual tensions created when the security service coerces a beautiful young nun into close proximity to an imprisoned Polish bishop. This black and white film perfectly echoes the starkly contrasting demands in human nature: natural desire and spiritual will, fear and faith, love and rejection, subjugation and freedom. The sexual tension and human longing are palpable, and the security service’s understanding of these human forces is extraordinarily well depicted, especially their ability to induce spiritual pain and doubt in order to achieve their political ends.