Inspired by records of the real Anchoress of Shere (near Guildford, Surrey),
who was voluntarily walled up in a tiny cell adjoining a church, Anchoress vividly evokes life in a remote
medieval village and explores the gulf between patriarchal power and female rebellion.
After claiming to be in direct contact with the Virgin Mary, 14-year-old Christine (Natalie Morse) takes the
advice of her local priest (Christopher Eccleston) and becomes an anchoress.
Over the protestations of her parents, she devotes her life to prayer, surviving on charitable food donations
while dispensing advice to pilgrims. Becoming an anchoress was a form of voluntary martyrdom, the sealingup
ceremony having a deliberately funereal feel, as though the subject had already died – which, in a sense,
she had, at least from the outside world’s perspective.

CAST AND CREW

Chris Newby Christopher Eccleston Gene Bervoets Pete Postlethwaite Toyah Willcox Veronica Quilligan

GENRE

Drama

CERTIFICATE

Contains moderate sex references

RUN TIME

1 hour 44 minutes

RELEASED

1993