Written by: Michael Den Boer on January 19th, 2009
Theatrical Release Date: Japan, January 7th, 1978
Director: Koyu Ohara
Writer: Chiho Katsura
Cast: Yuki Nohira, Rumi Tama, Tamaki Katsusa, Rei Okamoto
DVD released: February 24th, 2009
Approximate running time: 69 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
DVD Release: Mondo Macabro
Region Coding: Region 0 NTSC
Retail Price: $24.95
Synopsis: Rumiko a promiscuous young woman accidentally kills one of her fathers’ associates. Her father not wanting to cause a scandal forces her to become a nun. Stubborn and not wanting to conform, Rumiko quickly discovers that the nuns at her convent have a darker side waiting to be unleashed.
Sins of Sister Lucia was directed by Koyu Ohara whose other notable films include Wet Rope Confession, Fairy in a Cage, True Story of Woman Condemned: Sex Hell, True Story of Woman Condemned Continues, New True Story of Woman Condemned to Hell and White Rose Campus: Then Everybody Gets Raped. The screenplay for Sins of Sister Lucia was written by Chiho Katsura whose other notable screenwriting credits include Rape! 13th Hour, Assault! Jack the Ripper, Flower and Snake: Sketch of Hell and Hausu.
At the core of the plot for Sins of Sister Lucia is a character named Rumiko (she later is given the name Lucia by the mother superior at the convent). Here back-story is told through a series of flashbacks. Even through these glimpses into her past one could see that her relationship with her corrupt father sets in motion her eventual downward spiral. Also the more her character is exposed to the darker side of life this pushes her farther over the edge, to an eventual breakdown.
Visually Sins of Sister Lucia a well directed film that features many memorable moments like a scene were the nuns subdue Rumiko with yarn and a scene where two escaped convicts rape Rumiko who surprises them with a look of satisfaction. The film’s standout performance comes from Yuki Nohira in the lead role of Rumiko / Sister Lucia (she would also appear in the Koyu Ohara’s Wet Rope Confession). She really starts to shine once her character Lucia lets herself after being raped. Two other performances of note Rumi Tama as mother superior and Tamaki Katsura who most Roman Porno fans will recognize as the frizzy haired waitress in Assault! Jack the Ripper. Ultimately Sins of Sister Lucia is a well made Nunsplotation film that is knee deep in this genres most perverse clichés.
The DVD:
Mondo Macabro presents Sins of Sister Lucia in an anamorphic widescreen that preserves the film’s original 2.35:1 aspect ratio. Overall this progressive flagged transfer has robust colors, healthy looking flesh tones, solid black levels and details look crisp throughout. There are no problems with compression and edge enhancement is minimal.
This release comes with one audio option a Dolby Digital mono mix in Japanese and removable English subtitles have been included. The audio is free of any defects as it sounds clear and evenly balanced throughout.
Some of the extras included on this release like a text piece about Nikkatsu Studios, a twenty four minute documentary titled “The Erotic Empire” and trailers for Female Prisoner: Caged!, Watcher in the Attic, Naked Rashomon, the Sins of Sister Lucia and Assault! Jack the Ripper, these extras also appear on the Mondo Macabro DVD release’s for Assault! Jack the Ripper and Watcher in the Attic. Extras new to this release are a trailer for The Prosperities of the Vice and a text piece about Sins of Sister Lucia. Other extras include a nine minute interview with Jasper Sharp who discusses Sins of Sister Lucia and the films of Koyu Ohara. Rounding out the extras is the Mondo Macabro preview trailer which includes clips from titles they have currently released or about to release. Overall Sins of Sister Lucia is another exceptional release from Mondo Macabro.