The Devil's Work
A historical documentary and filmic poem that interprets the story of José Francisco Pereira, an enslaved man who was tried by the Lisbon Inquisition for sorcery and sodomy. An adaptation of Pereira’s trial is interwoven with passages from Saint Peter Damian’s passionate 11th-century condemnation of sodomy as an unrepeatable sin in Letter 31 (also known as The Book of Gomorrah), and Walter Benjamin’s iconic elucidations on historicism and progress in Theses on the Philosophy of History. The film revisits the morally and legally charged figure of the sodomite as a violent historical construction and expression of ecclesiastical, institutional, and colonial patriarchy.
Where to watch
Not streaming anywhere
Not on any streaming service in United States, and not available to rent.
Your rating
Your review
Cast
4 people
Carlos Motta Director
First release October 31, 2018 · Original title Corpo Fechado
Languages
Original title
Corpo Fechado
Original language
Portuguese
Spoken on screen
Portuguese
Release dates
Portugal · October 31, 2018
Theatrical · Galeria Avenida da Índia
No release date listed for United States.
More from Carlos Motta
Other films they directed, best known first.
If you liked The Devil's Work
Picks that share its genres, themes, cast and crew.