Fitzgerald attemps to portray the dark reality of the worldwide AIDS crisis. It seems like he wants to show us everything -- every shattered life, every helpless victim -- but he can't. So, instead, he shows us three needles, a small sampling of the suffering caused by the AIDS epidemic.

In the first segment, Lucy Liu (Kill Bill, Charlies Angels) runs a deadly black market blood bank in China that kills more people than it saves. In the second, Shawn Ashmore (X-Men) is an adult film performer with AIDS who hides his condition by stealing blood for tests.

The final portion of the movie is the one nunsploitation fans should be most interested in.

Chloë Sevigny (The Brown Bunny), Sandra Oh (Grey's Anatomy), and Olympia Dukakis (Steel Magnolias) are missionary nuns who arrive in Africa. Their mission is convert as many people as possible in the wake of a catastrophic epidemic.

Sister Clara (Sevigny) is portrayed as being compassionate, chaste (she declines Sister John's (Oh's) invitation to dance around the bonfire), but practical and emotional.

Sister Hilde Francis (Dukakis) represents Fitzgerald's idea of the Catholic Church -- steadfast and caring, but narrow-minded and short-sighted. She clings to her mission of saving souls and gives little regard for quality of life. She gets hung up on the letter of the law and loses the spirit. (When Sister Clara remarks that many of the villagers have already been saved by previous missions, Sister Francis responds in horror: "They're Anglican!")

Sister Clara is soon consumed with practical matters like caring for a family of orphans, saving the life of a baby, and stopping an AIDS-stricken man from raping children under the misguided belief that the practice will cure him.

It's not long before the other nuns are drawn into her cause, but the three of them can not accomplish much. Sister Clara finds she must turn to the lustful plantation foreman, Mr. Hallyday, for help. "You help me and I'll help you," he propositions her.

She finally gives in to his indecent proposal in a scene worthy of Joe D'Amato himself. She hikes up her robe to her waist and allows him to pull down her panties. He lifts her onto the table and spreads her legs. He savors every inch of her body, slowly pulling her robe up over her breasts.

It's an erotic, sexually charged scene. Chloë's body is simply magnificent. Often, you'll hear about these films in which a nun finds her self in a compromising situation, but the action is implied or done off camera. Fitzgerald makes no apologies as he portrays this seduction in an upfront and candid manner.

Sister Clara never for a moment makes it appear as if she's enjoying herself. The action is consensual, but it is endured, rather than enjoyed.

The mission gets a large cash donation for gravely needed medical supplies. One doctor states that the money could save hundreds of lives.

Sister Clara finds herself visiting Hallyday again... and again.... Each time with a list of favors. Help for pregnant women, better health care for the workers.

She finds herself comfortably entering his home and undressing in his bedroom.

Finally, the arrangement ends when the convent is broken into and the nuns are violently raped. Sister Francis is killed.

It's not clear if the attack is motivated by revenge because Sister Clara arranged to have an AIDS-stricken worker jailed for raping children, or if these men believe the nuns are virgins who can cure them of AIDS.

In the end of the movie, Fitzgerald poses the question, if this virus is so terrible, why has it not united humanity in common cause against it? He answers his own question clearly and unambiguously. He places the blame squarely on God and religion.

The director's disdain for religion is apparent throughout the third segment, especially through his portrayal of the narrow-minded and obtuse Sister Francis.

Sister Clara's practicality, her desire to help save people, not just souls, is portrayed as an anomaly. Strangely enough, he forgets that caring for the sick and the poor is a mission that does happen in reality. The Church is not just concerned about convincing people to change their religion. Free clinics throughout the world are run through the Church for the benefit of all people, not just Christians.

If convincing people that religion is to blame for the spread of AIDS was the aim of the movie, then the director failed miserably. The film does, however, serve to spread awareness of the real impact the virus has and it portrays victims as people, not statistics...

...Despite bashing from critics, 3 Needles is a worthwhile film. See the movie and decide for yourself.