It's rare to have this kind of character development in a nunsploitation story. It's rarer still in Emmanuelle movies. But director Giuseppe Vari and star Laura Gemser know Emmanuelle well. They put her a challenging situation and she comes out the better for it.

It's strange to see the tables turned on Emmanuelle. She is now a nun, trying to atone for her lustful past and overcome the weakness of her flesh. Her dedication to this path is challenged when Monica, an incorrigible nymphomaniac, is placed in the care of the girls school Emmanuelle is assigned to.

Monica turns the place upside down seducing everyone she lays on eyes on, from the train conductor on the way to the school, to her once-saintly, bookworm room mate.

Finally, Monica pushes Emmanuelle too far by placing her in a situation where Emmanuelle is forced to sacrifice her convictions, her vows, and her body in order to save one of her students.

I thoroughly enjoyed this film. I loved seeing Emmanuelle as a nun. The portrayal wasn't cheap or trashy. It would have been easy to make a movie in which Emmanuelle turns the convent into a whorehouse. Instead, the film makers took the high road and took Emmanuelle's dedication to the order seriously. Emmanuelle tries very hard to be a good nun, to do what is required of her, to atone for her past and to resist the onslaught of temptations she is faced with throughout the movie.

We do get to see a few long, sexy and exploitative strip scenes featuring the absolutely perfect body of Laura Gemser.

In the end, Emmanuelle fans won't be disapointed as she remains true to her nature. Without spoiling the ending, it's done in a way that allows Emmanuelle to remain true to herself and to her vows.

In fact, the movie really is a journey of discovery for Emmanuelle. She questions herself, challenges her very heart and soul, and walks away better and stronger for it.

Again, I was pleasantly surprised at what a strong, character-driven film this was. Definitely worth picking up.