Our Lady of the Turks (1968)
"Nostra signora dei turchi" (original title)

Director:

Carmelo Bene

Writers:

Carmelo Bene (novel), Carmelo Bene

Stars:

Carmelo Bene, Lydia Mancinelli, Ornella Ferrari

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Carmelo Bene	...	The Protagonist
Lydia Mancinelli	...	Margherita / The Saint
Ornella Ferrari	...	The Servant
Anita Masini	...	Holy Mary / The Wife
Salvatore Siniscalchi	...	The Publisher
Vincenzo Musso
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jed Curtis	...	Mendicant Monk

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

avant garde | actor playing multiple roles | attempted suicide | cult director | balcony | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

16 November 1968 (Italy)

Also Known As:

I agia mas ton Tourkon

Filming Locations:

Otranto, Lecce, Apulia, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Patara

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min 160 min (original)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Ektachrome)

Did You Know?

Trivia

Italian censorship visa # 52734 delivered on November 16, 1968.

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Connections

Referenced in Henri Langlois: The Phantom of the Cinémathèque (2004)

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Soundtracks

"A Night on Bare Mountain"
Composed by Modest Mussorgsky

User Reviews

Interesting Avant Garde Experiment from Bene.

"Our Lady of the Turks" is a film that is hard to categorize. Then again Carmelo Bene's films are hard to define. Often beautiful, sometimes boring, somewhat ego-centric and sometimes bitingly humorous. The film starts off as a sort of mocumentary about Ontranto, Italy. This is where the Turks tried to invade 100 years before; killing the Saracens. Then we are treated to Bene in front of the camera in a series of bizarre, surreal images and comical mishaps. Bene's character is taunted by the Madonna. Wherever he goes this beautiful virgin Mary is sure to follow, making his life a real headache. She is symbolic of man's desire and dreams. This is a film where visuals overpower story or lack there of. At first I didn't know how to feel about the film. But to be honest, it was quite a journey with it's bizarre experimental style. Somewhat frustrating but altogether breathtaking. There's simply nothing like it. If you enjoy Fellini or even experimental films by Stan Brakhage; you may find this film interesting. Not that I didn't enjoy the film, but I felt it was 20 minutes too long. My opinion might change after a second or third viewing.