La monaca di Monza (1969)

Set in seventeenth-century Italy, La Monaca di Monza (1969) tells the provocative coming-of-sexual-age story of a Spanish nun (Anne Heywood) who reacts with unexpected zeal after she is disturbingly assaulted by a loathsome nobleman. After giving birth to the aristocrat’s child, the nun feels strangely drawn to her attacker. She springs him from prison and the two embark on a scandalous affair until a surprising twist of events lands the Sister behind bars for her naughty indulgences. Director Eriprando Visconti vividly captures the sexual electricity and religious hysteria of the real-life story, and fiery redhead Anne Heywood proves perfect in the breast-baring lead role.