A religious scandal that shocked Poland in 2007 is set to be revived by veteran film director Barbara Sass.

The film, entitled W imieniu diabła (In the Devil's Name) is based on events that occurred in the picturesque riverside town of Kazimierz Dolny, central Poland.

In October 2007, 150 policemen forcibly entered a convent in the town, after nuns – who had already been defrocked for straying from their vows – barricaded themselves in for a period of two years.

The sisters had been joined by maverick Franciscan monk Roman Komaryczko who was already known to the Church as a loose cannon.

On forcing their way into the premises, police discovered a baby, which was immediately taken to a local hospital. Brother Komaryczko was escorted from the building in handcuffs.

Director Barbara Sass, a former recipient of a FIPRESCI international critics award, says the film is not a direct reconstruction of the events.

However, the essentials of the plot will follow the 2007 incident.

The subject itself is not entirely novel in Polish cinema and bears some parallels with an earlier work.

In 1961, acclaimed director Jerzy Kawalerowicz released Mother Joan of the Angels, based on the novella of the same name by Jaroslaw Iwaszkiewicz.

The action for the earlier film was set in a seventeenth century Polish convent, although the plot itself was inspired by the famed French scandal in the town of Loudun in 1634.

In the Devil's Name is due to be premiered at the 36th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia this June. (nh)

Source: PAP