Escola Penal de Meninas Violentadas

After a long ride through the countryside, Marli (Sueli Aoki) arrives to a House of Correction directed by nuns headed by a sadistic lesbian Mother Superior (Meiry Vieira). At first Marli (a new fish) thinks that she is in a relatively normal prison – it would be grim, of course, but not a nightmare, and she was not prepared for what she was to find out a little later. When on her arrival she was greeted by Cinira (Zelia Martins), the informal leader of the group, with the words "Welcome to hell, my angel", Marli didn't understand, but soon the meaning of Cinira's words would become very clear. There were no major problems concerning the relationship among the girls, a fight could break out once in a while but that was all. What they really were afraid of were the whims of the Mother Superior that always led to severe punishments. These punishments are executed by the mute (and very devoted to the Mother Superior) warden, that always walks around carrying a big whip and a revolver on his belt. The girls are not satisfied, they mumble and grumble. And there's some dissent even among the nuns, but the Mother Superior is all-too powerful.

"Escola Penal de Meninas Violentadas" (House of Correction for raped girls) is a mixture of WIP and nunsploitation. It was made in 1977, in a time in which the political system was opening and the censorship began to relax its grip, but this was just the beginning, so "Escola Penal de Meninas Violentadas" is not as sleazy as, for example, "A Prisão" (Bare Behind Bars) – Brazil – 1980, or "Escape from Hell" – Italy 1980. Anyway in "Escola Penal…" the girls are either wearing very few clothes or semi-nude, in short, lots of skin. Lesbianism is more implied than fully shown. But on the other side there's lots of violence – whippings, masochism, torture, you name it, most of it executed by the Mother Superior's henchman, the mute obedient warden.

"Escola Penal…" tells definitely a story, a simple but interesting story, and the soundtrack presents a colorful selection of Brazilian music (those that understand Portuguese will enjoy it all the more). The film is a good example of the Brazilian popular cinema of the late 70s.

The newcomer Marli (Sueli de Fátima Aoki) arrives in a remote reformatory in the countryside ruled by the sadistic and insane Mother Superior Maria do Socorro (Meiry Vieira) and her retarded deaf and dumb henchman Carrasco. The Mother Superior punishes the inmates for any minor fault, and they are brutally whipped or raped by Carrasco to exorcise the demons that possess them. The Mother Superior is worshiped by the deranged sister Clara and the other nuns and the inmates do not have any means of communication with the distant town. The only vehicle is a jeep and the keys are kept in the possession of the Mother Superior. When the prisoner Cinira (Zélia Martins) is helped by a stranger, she learns that Maria do Socorro is not who she tells she is and the man seeks evidences of the brutal treatment of the inmates.

"Escola Penal de Meninas Violentadas" is a Brazilian film of exploitation genre and the exploitation begins in its title that means "Penal School for Raped Girls". The acting is awful, and the stupid story has a corny and unreasonable conclusion with Cinira leaving the facility with the detective that helped her without any explanation. Antonio Meliande select a good cast in the Boca do Lixo, with the women exposed all the time and the intent of this flick is achieved. My vote is three.

Title (Brazil): "Escola Penal de Meninas Violentadas" ( "Penal School for Raped Girls")