Of Love and Other Demons

In colonial Colombia, 13-year-old Sierva Maria is an aristocrat raised by enslaved caregivers rather than her parents. Her education blends aristocratic expectations with the African traditions taught by Dominga de Adviento, revealing a cross-cultural world. The social climate is defined by religious intolerance and slavery.

Sierva Maria is bitten by a rabid dog at the market, triggering fear of rabies and a medical mystery. A doctor suggests she may not have rabies but warns of dangerous symptoms that alarm her family. The bite becomes the catalyst for the bishop to intervene.

The bishop declares Sierva Maria possessed and orders her confinement in a convent for exorcism. The Marquis is pressured to comply, transferring guardianship from family to church. This marks a shift from secular protection to religious surveillance.

A woman confined next to Sierva Maria, known for atheistic beliefs, visits at night and provides companionship. Their conversations challenge the ritualistic treatment of possession and highlight doubts about faith. The cell becomes a space of forbidden dialogue.

The bishop assigns Cayetano Delaura, a young ecclesiastical disciple, to oversee Sierva Maria’s soul and drive out the demon. He visits regularly and embodies the tension between religious duty and mercy. His role soon blurs into personal curiosity.

Cayetano grows convinced Sierva Maria is not possessed and senses a deeper, intimate bond with her. His professional judgment wavers under sympathy and attraction. The boundary between healer and lover begins to crumble.

Despite social norms, Cayetano and Sierva Maria fall in love, keeping their connection hidden from church and family. They exchange intimate moments and secret words, deepening their emotional stake. The romance becomes a dangerous secret with devastating potential.

The bishop feels betrayed by Cayetano and orders him away from the case, severing his official access to the girl. The relationship is forced underground as institutional authority asserts control. The lovers face increased isolation.

Undeterred, Cayetano continues to visit Sierva Maria, using a tunnel to reach her without drawing attention. The clandestine meetings intensify the stakes and the sense that time is running out. The tunnel becomes a symbol of escape and entrapment.

The bishop orders Sierva Maria's hair cut, symbolizing the loss of virginity and the social control over her body. The act underscores the power imbalance under religious and aristocratic norms. It also foreshadows the impending exorcism.

An exorcism is carried out to purge the demon, exposing the fragility of faith in the face of passion and social pressures. Sierva Maria endures the ritual while Cayetano remains connected in memory if not in person. The episode culminates in a tragic outcome.

The narrative closes with the consequences of love contested by religious authority and colonial power structures. The lovers’ tragedy reflects the broader oppression of the era, including slavery and intolerance. The film invites reflection on whether love can survive within such a world.