I, The Worst of All (1995)

Set in a magnificent recreation of 17th Century Mexico and based on a true story, I, THE WORST OF ALL is the portrait of a brilliant and beautiful poet, Sister Juana Ines de la Cruz (Assumpta Serna), who enters the convent to pursue her love of writing and goes on to gain international renown as one of the best poets in the Golden Age of Spanish poetry. However, this is the height of the Inquisition and her intellectual prowess soon leads to clashes with the Archbishop of Mexico (Lautaro Murua).

Sister Juana is protected only by the beautiful new Vicereine (Dominique Sanda), who befriends and shelters Sister Juana, while simultaneously becoming her erotic muse. The very existence of their friendship flouts convention, but as long as the Viceroy's tour of duty lasts, Sister Juana is safe. Based on the book "The Traps of Faith" by Nobel Prize winner Octavio Paz, I THE WORST OF ALL is considered director Maria Luisa Bemberg's feminist masterpiece and was her last film. Product Description

I, The worst of All (Yo, la Peor de Todas)

A very strong and defiant statement. A fit title for the lifestory of Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz. She is a Mexican holy woman and a genius with much intellectual prowess who lived before the time of feminism. She is most haunting and fascinating person. Her beauty was also legend. This story must be told. (spanish) January 8, 2008

"Every Theology Is Questionable" ~ Attraction For The Abyss

Note: Spanish with English subtitles.

The obscure '95 film `I, The Worst of All' is visual poetry of the highest order. Based on the life of poet, scholar, feminist and Catholic nun Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, director Maria Luisa Bemberg does a magnificent job at capturing contemporary life and attitudes inside and outside the convent in 17th century Mexico.

The majority of the storyline unfolds inside the cold, minimalist confines of the convent community. The stark visuals coupled with a shadowy, dark around the edges cinematic style creates an otherworldly atmosphere giving the production the feel of a stage play rather than a film.

The surreal nature of 'I, The Worst of All' can be fully appreciated in one particularly evocative and mesmerizing scene showing Sister Juana on her way to visit her dying Mother. As she rides methodically across the desert against the backdrop of a crimson sunset one feels as though they're watching the final brushstroke being applied to a Goya painting.

Assumpta Serna is magnificent in the role of Sister Juana; beautiful, beguiling, clever and highly intelligent, qualities that traditionally coincide with traits possessed by the serpent in the Garden of Eden. She is the perfect foil for the masculine hierarchy trying to silence the pen and tongue of the defiant and spirited nun.

Buy this one! A flawless production and a signature performance by Assumpta Serna make 'I, The Worst of All' a cinematic jewel that belongs in every serious DVD collection.

P.S.: Don't let the comment about lesbianism on the DVD case dissuade you from viewing this film, it simply isn't there. There is an intense and deeply profound relationship between Juana and her aristocratic patroness but whatever those feelings portend they are left unspoken and un-acted upon. November 30, 2007

Sor Juana

Excellent movie! Based on Sor Juana's biography by Octavio Paz; movie's title refers to the way Sor Juan signed her last letter. January 12, 2007

STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL FILM-MAKING

One of my best friends saw that I was reading a novel about Sor Juana, SOR JUANA'S SECOND DREAM, by Alicia Gaspar de Alba, and recommended this film to me -- with the admonishment to ignore the tawdry blurb on the cover: "Lesbian passions seething behind convent walls", indeed! How ridiculous -- it would be like describing FORREST GUMP as "partying with coeds in a dorm room after hours". It's a cheap attempt to draw the wrong conclusions about this moving story. Don't let it put you off.

This film about the amazing woman who has been called Mexico's 'Tenth muse' -- a reference to the title Plato bestowed on Sappho -- is a beautiful piece of film-making. Even considering the scenes that were meant to be outdoors, that were obviously shot on a sound stage, this is a lovely experience. The direction is superb, the acting amazingly sensitive -- I was enthralled, and I usually don't enjoy films with subtitles.

Sor Juana was an amazing woman -- intellectual, creative, always pushing her own boundaries, and brave. For a woman in her era (seventeenth century Mexico) to profess that women had just as much right to an education, to learning, as men, set her against some powerful forces -- mainly the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. Her courage and determination in the face of such opposition is inspiring -- it's easy to see why she's seen as a hero by so many. November 18, 2002

Tremendous Film - It's about time!

The "Tenth Muse" has finally been portrayed accurately. I've studyed the writings of Sor Juana for nearly a decade and continue to be impressed by her artistry. This film captures much of what I appreciate about her and her writing. It shows Sor Juana as a strong woman who is truly a master of her art and a master of herself. That may seem an odd thing to say, but being a master of oneself in the cloister of the 17th century convent is a feat worthy of mention.

For years there has been speculation that Sor Juana was, at the least, a sapphic poet, and probably a lesbian. Lets set the record straight. There is no direct evidence that Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz was a lesbian. Did she write love poems to the Marquesa de Mancera? Yes. Does that make her a lesbian? No. She was simply writing poems to, and for, a friend in a commonly accepted style. Other contemporary male poets also wrote love poems to the Marquesa. Does that mean they were in love with her. Not at all. It was a common practice and was done as a sign of devotion, of friendship, and often as an attempt to earn a pension from the noble family. Having now said that, is it possible that she was a lesbian? Of course it's possible. Does it matter? No! Sor Juana is one of the finest scholars and poets of the Americas. That's what's important. August 23, 2002

More reviews at Amazon.com ...