In the Middle Ages, an unnamed stranger (Karol Bernacki) tends to the wounds of a recently shipwrecked bishop (Krzysztof Pieczynski). Sent on a mission from the King, the latter’s task is basically to beat Christianity into the heads of the heathen islanders, with the alternative being certain death. The natives take target practice on the large wooden crucifix the bishop clutches in his hand, yet the newly-arrived pair are allowed to live. To suppress the race of medieval clay people and prove their resident deity a sham, the pious potentate emerges unsinged from a stroll through the flames of hell. Surprise: what sounds like Ming the Merciless’ demise in a Flash Gordon serial is actually a mesmeric, wildly accomplished historical drama from Polish filmmaker Bartosz Konopka (Fear of Falling). The double-edged title alludes to one of our two leads having his lips sewn together, as well as the film’s muting a chunk of audience comprehension by subtitling “human speech” and not the pagan chatter. The Film Movement Plus release held its Virtual Cinema Premier just last week, and is currently awaiting your digital download. (2018) — Scott Marks
This movie is not currently in theaters.