Don Toribio (Mats Almgren) and Sierva Maria (Allison Bell) in the Final Act of Love and Other Demons. c. Mike Hoban
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On her birthday, in the town of Cartagena de Indias in Colombia, Sierva Mariá, daughter of the Marquis Don Ygnacio, is taken to the market by Dominga, her father’s housekeeper. At the market, Sierva Mariá – whose red hair will never be cut until she is married – is bitten by a rabid dog. Although the girl shows no symptoms, both Dominga and the Marquis set about trying to cure her, the former using Yoruba spells and medicine, Sierva Mariá’s father turning to Abrenuncio, the laconic and rational local doctor.
But there are other opinions abroad, and when the town falls under a solar eclipse, the local bishop determines that some action must be taken to calm the superstitions of local population. He instructs the Marquis to lodge Sierva Mariá in the care of the Abbess at the Convent of St Clare. The bishop then sends his brilliant young librarian, Cayetauno Delaura, to exorcise the demons they believe to be possessing the young girl. No sooner has Delaura met Sierva Mariá than he falls in love with her, and despite his attempts to drive out the demon of lust, he becomes obsessed.
Convinced that there is nothing wrong with Sierva Mariá, Delaura pleads to her father and the Bishop to let her go away with him, but they refuse, so instead the two lovers plan to escape. They are discovered and parted. Separated from all who have loved her, Sierva Mariá submits to an horrific exorcism by the Bishop.
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