Anchoress, the 1993 Chris Newby directed film, with Christopher Eccleston, Pete Postlethwaite, Natalie Morse and Toyah, is airing on London Live later this month.
Anchoress: London Live: Friday 24th January: 10pm
Anchoress: London Live: Monday 27th January: 11pm
A peasant girl develops a fascination with a statue of the Virgin Mary, which prompts a priest to sentence her to be walled up in the church. When she discovers her mother is to be tried as a witch, she resolves to break free from her imprisonment, even if it costs her her life. Medieval drama, starring Natalie Morse, Toyah Willcox, Pete Postlethwaite, Christopher Eccleston, Gene Bervoets, Brenda Bertin. Director: Chris Newby
Anchoress Info: Toyah plays the role of Pauline Carpenter in Anchoress, a 1993 British drama film directed by Chris Newby. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival.
The screenplay is partly based on accounts of an historical female anchorite, Christine Carpenter, who was walled into her anchorhold in a village church in Surrey, England, in 1329. The story revolves around the girl’s mystical visions of the Virgin Mary, the Priest who walls her into his village church, and his dislike of her mother, a midwife whom he regards as a witch.
The film is shot in black-and-white and visually resembles the works of Danish filmmaker Carl Theodor Dreyer, especially The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) – Continue reading at toyahwillcox.com.
