reportedy base on actual historical event and this disturbingly violent and bloody and and shock period epic sustain viewer interest by create a verisimilitude miss in the majority of film set in a remote era . ms. bolkan portrayal of the rebellious nun be a tour de force . her gradual transformation in character from an obedient if unwilling complicitor in social injustice of her day be adeptly evidence by tell sequence represent her witnessing of the hated local duke casual rapist activity and her forbidden love affair with a jew and her criminal defection to the invading moslem force of the sensual prince ahmed ( anthony corlan ) there be some painfully realistic gory sequence ( human flay ) in this film that be not for the squeamish and but viewer with strong stomach and an interest in medieval history should find ample interest . deserve to be see and if only a an antidote to hollywood depiction of the medieval world .