Ken Russell’s restored The Devils confronts religious and political power
Ken Russell’s restored 1971 film *The Devils* has been rereleased in its complete form after years of censorship. Based on the true story of the Loudun witch trials, it uses sexualised and religiously shocking imagery to confront the violence of political and religious authority.
Oliver Reed plays Father Urbain Grandier, a charismatic priest whose support for Loudun’s independence angers Cardinal Richelieu and the Church. Vanessa Redgrave plays Sister Jeanne, whose resentment helps fuel accusations of demonic possession that state agents exploit; the review also highlights the film’s portrayal of misogyny, hysteria and fascism.
In short
- Ken Russell’s *The Devils* returns in its complete, restored form.
- Oliver Reed and Vanessa Redgrave lead its story of persecution.
- The film presents authority’s violence as its central obscenity.
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The case for
The restored film can be defended as a serious work of political and artistic criticism: its provocative imagery makes visible how religious authority, state power and misogyny can combine to punish dissent. Showing it in its complete form respects artistic integrity and lets audiences confront disturbing history without cuts imposed by censorship.
The case against
The film’s defenders of restraint could argue that sexualised and religiously shocking imagery risks overwhelming its historical and political argument, or turning suffering into spectacle. They may also see limits on exhibition or editing as a legitimate way to respect religious sensitivities and protect audiences, provided those limits are transparent and proportionate.
Explained simply
Ken Russell was a British film director known for bold, often controversial work. The Devils, released in 1971, is set in 17th-century France and draws on the real events known as the Loudun witch trials, when people were accused of witchcraft in the town of Loudun.
Father Urbain Grandier was a priest who backed Loudun’s independence from central rule. Cardinal Richelieu, a senior adviser to the king, and Church authorities opposed that independence; Sister Jeanne, a nun who resented Grandier, became central to claims that nuns were possessed by demons.
The film explores how political and religious leaders can use accusations and public fear to strengthen their authority. Its treatment of sexuality, faith and the persecution of women has made it a subject of debate.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “The Devils review – Ken Russell’s 1971 possessed-nuns tale is a frenzied aria of confrontation and hysteria”.