Beyond the Walls

This 1985 Spanish film reveals one of the many terrible aspects of 16th century Spain still plagued by the radical Christian Inquisition one of a plethora of difficulties Spaniards faced at the time Spanish super star Carmen Maura plays a nun who agrees to a selfless scam a fake stigmata only to avoid separation from her lover another nun Its a serious and passionate work highlighting the theme of outspoken womenagainstrepression seen in other good gay and lesbian films This is not a lesbian Nun sense or another Dark Habits by Almodovar which also starred Carmen Maura and also set in a Spanish convent with some lesbian nuns Perhaps best of all Extramuros is realistic and frank It isnt shy about its characters sexuality Their sexuality and the film as a whole are genuine