The Holy Inquisition (1974)

In the unsettling world of the 16th century, we meet Gaspar de Carvajal. A devoted Dominican, Gaspar distanced himself from his family at a tender age to follow the path of faith. The death of his father unearths a decade-long separation, drawing Gaspar back into the folds of his family. At the funeral, Gaspar sees the shadowy remnants of their Jewish past in the burial rites, stirring suspicion. He confides in Father Lorenzo, his spiritual guide, about the haunting specter of his family's religious transgressions. Father Lorenzo, alarmed by the revelation, takes the matter to the formidable Inquisition, where the stern Alonso de Peralta, the chief Inquisitor of New Spain, resides. Based on Gaspar's testimony, the gears of justice grind into motion, and the Carvajal family finds themselves ensnared in the clutches of the Inquisition. The plot thickens as the Franciscan friar Hernando is dispatched to spy on Luis, Gaspar's brother, in the bleak solitude of his cell. Unexpectedly, Luis's unwavering faith in Judaism ignites a spark of conversion in Hernando. Under the relentless grip of torment, their mother Francisca succumbs, admitting their secret faith. In a twist of mercy, the Carvajal family is released after renouncing their Jewish beliefs. But the echo of a chilling ultimatum lingers in the air – a second transgression, a return to Judaism, will be punishable by death at the stake. The suspense persists, leaving the viewer on the edge of their seat in this tumultuous tale of faith, family, and ferocious inquisition.

The Holy Inquisition is a drama movie featuring Farnesio de Bernal and directed by Arturo Ripstein.

The Holy Inquisition is currently streaming on MUBI.