Visions of Ecstasy

Following the release of AXEL, I embarked on my next project, Visions of Ecstasy, a film inspired by a loose interpretation of the writings of the Carmelite nun, Saint Teresa of Avila, and the aesthetic of Bernini’s sculpture, The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa. With a larger budget secured, I brought in Steven Severin to compose the soundtrack, and I planned to distribute the film myself, as I had successfully done with AXEL.

However, the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) refused to classify the film, deeming it potentially blasphemous. This decision effectively banned Visions of Ecstasy in the UK, sparking a lengthy legal battle.

The challenges and controversies surrounding the film’s ban are documented in greater detail elsewhere. For those interested, I’ve included a PDF of the booklet I wrote for its eventual release in 2012, when the ban was finally lifted, along with a small selection of press coverage from the time.