STEALING HEAVEN

UK, 1988, 115 minutes, Colour.
Derek de Lint, Kim Thomson, Denholm Elliot, Kenneth Cranham, Patsy Byrne, Rachel Kempson, Angela Pleasence, Bernard Hepton.
Directed by Clive Donner.

Stealing Heaven is a romantic mediaeval drama which focuses on the relationship between the celebrated theologian Peter Abelard and his love for Eloise. The story has a long tradition, is the stuff of romantic stories - including those told about the couple who are buried in the Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris. However, the history of the Catholic church has taken a dimmer view of Abelard, his theological innovations, his teaching method, his relationship with Eloise. St. Bernard was a foe of Abelard.

This film shows Paris in the 11th. century, a small city with its university and theological courses, Abelard as an innovative teacher who did not lecture but rather used the Socratic questioning method for learning. Supported by the Archbishop of Paris but with the hostility of the chancellor of the university, Abelard was a lay philosopher who was expected to lead a celibate life. He meets the well-educated Eloise as he lives at her uncle's house. They fall in love.

Eloise is the strong-willed character, a questioning person, not feeling bound to the straight and rigid legislation of the church. Abelard, however, is more traditional, repents of the relationship, and his eventual castration on the behest of E1oise's uncle, is seen as God's justice for him. He decides that they both must enter religious orders. The film shows the subsequent years as each of them lives out their life, still in love with each other, but dedicated to their work.

The film has a great deal to say about the history of the church, the questions of law and relationships, freedom of intellectual pursuit, authority in the church. The film is written with a 20th. century perspective, especially that of the '70s and '80s.

Direction is by Clive Donner who directed the mediaeval epic Alfred the Great. (He also directed very many comedies, spoofs as well as adaptations of Dickens' novels.)

1. The mediaeval world, characters, situations and issues? The history of the Catholic church? The perspective of the later 20th century?

2. The use of Yugoslav locations, the countryside, the abbeys and convents, the re-creation of the mediaeval city, dwellings and streets? The attention of set design, costumes? An authentic feel? The score -and the use of sacred melodies?

3. Audience knowledge of Abelard and Eloise? Their history? The church, regulations and traditions? The teaching of theology? The title of the film and its relationship to their experiences? Beliefs?

4. The Catholic church, hierarchy, the sense of the sacred, the secular? The Archbishop of Paris and his rule, church leadership, the mayor of the city? The university and its chancellor? The diocesan chapter and the canons? Church law, the sacraments? Liturgy? Study, theology? Celibacy? Religious life? Sin, guilt, confession, repentance? God's justice?

5. The opening and Eloise dying: the convent and its ritual, her calling for the crucifix, throwing it, the feather and her phrase: 'I understand'?

6. Eloise as strong and wilful, with Sister Cecilia, the questions about God's genitals? Her relationship with the abbess and the abbess's support of her? The archbishop and their travel, the discussion about the Gadarene swine? Her arrival and meeting her uncle, the delight in his house, in Paris? The background of her study? Attitude towards her uncle's business with the relics? Friendship with the archbishop? The accident in the street and the boy dying, her attacking Abelard for taking the money, her anger? Her apology? Her attraction towards him? The range of suitors, her uncle arranging marriages? The picnic, the hunter, pleading with her uncle to cancel the contract? Fulbert relenting? The dinner with the archbishop, her serving, her anger, and going to her room? Abelard following? His living at their home? The archbishop allowing him to tutor her? The outings? the discussions? Christmas, the relationship? Love and passion? Riding the horses, at the river, the feather of the dove? Their meetings? His repentance? Their religious discussions, Eloise as sceptic? Jourdain and his devotion? The secrecy of their relationship? The maid and her observation? Blackmailing Eloise for the dress? Fulbert discovering the truth? Her pregnancy? Escaping from the city, going to Abelard's sister's? The birth of the baby, the decision to call him Astralabe and the path to the stars? Abelard's absence, their coming together? The news of his castration, her going to Paris? Her cursing her uncle? The discussion about the future, going to Abelard, his holding to tradition, seeing God's punishment and justice? Her fighting it, having to accept? Present at his vows? Her going to the convent, meeting Sister Cecelia as abbess? Taking the feather and putting it in the crucifix? Her life, her vigorous work, Abelard's visits? Suger ousting the nuns and their travelling through the snow? The new building, growing old? Abelard's visit, the meeting with her son? Her death and the realisation of the meaning of her life? A strong portrait of an attractive and intelligent woman, a passionate woman? Free, attitudes towards God, faith, the church?

7. Abelard as a strong character, his physical presence and bearing, his lectures, the exhilaration and exuberance, the questions and the dialogue with the students? Living with the students, the singing, drinking? His explanation of his commitment and his celibacy? The students hiring the prostitute and her staying the night? His not consenting? The chancellor and his jealousy? The archbishop and his support? The arrest? The re-action of the students? His meeting Eloise in the street? Giving her the answer about the Gadarene swine? His decision to go and live in Fulbert's house, the attraction of Eloise? His tutoring her, their discussions, the dinner and his following her, falling in love? The sexual encounter? His sense of sin? Going to the archbishop? Going to the monk and not receiving absolution? Their further meetings, encounters, riding, the feather of the dove? The truth emerging? Confrontation with Fulbert? His continuing his lectures? His sense of divine justice, taking Eloise and escaping? His return, reinstatement? The violence of the castration? A shell of a man, Eloise's coming, his bitterness and sadness? His decision to become a monk? Not persuading Eloise otherwise? The archbishop and his vows? Eloise and the convent, the visits, the building, Suger transferring him to Brittany? Old age, the visit with his son? The finale and the custom of the kiss? Buried together?

8. Fulbert as the Canon of Paris, his business in relics, a merchant, his reputation? Delight in having the archbishop to dinner? His regard for his niece (and suggestions of incestuous desire)? Her suitors? Letting Abelard tutor her? His anger at the truth, the archbishop warning him, hiring the castrators, the archbishop ousting him from Paris, the bitterness of Eloise's cursing him?

9. The archbishop as a humanist, the contrast with the chancellor? His regard for Abelard? Delight with Eloise? His warnings against Fulbert, ousting him? His acting as the Mayor of Paris, the decision for reinstating Abelard to bring money and commerce to the city? His confessing Abelard? The meet- of Chapter and its solemnity? Receiving Abelard's vows?

10. The chancellor and the controversy, his jealousy of Abelard, his work with the archbishop, the curfews in the city? His victimising Abelard and Eloise? His becoming a bishop and appointing Abelard as Abbott?

11. Jourdain and his friendship, faithfulness to Abelard and Eloise, his devotion to her? Helping her to safety? The proposal of marriage and his being her servant? Having her son in his service?

12. The sketch of the students, their attitudes, the theological arguments, the intensity of their interest in questions of Heaven and Hell, guilt and responsibility, sin? The practical jokes, paying for the prostitute for the night? Helping Abelard and Eloise escape?

13. The maid, her observation of the situation, her blackmailing Eloise for the dress? Fulbert noticing it and the emergence of the truth? The old nurse and her devotion, helping the pair escape?

14. The background of the development of theology, Abelard's contribution, the hostility of the church authorities the demand of clear doctrine, his encouraging questioning? Eloise and the boldness of her questions, interpreting scripture? The contrast of her perception of the Old Testament God of Vengeance and the New Testament God of Love? The tradition of celibacy for the philosopher? Fidelity to celibacy? Faith, repentance and punishment, atonement? Themes of freedom, love and happiness?