A lizard, a nun, and a sexual awakening walk into a convent...
A young novice at an isolated convent is confronted with the sudden desire to explore her sexual self in the wake of meeting a blue-tongued lizard. DANIEL is a religious erotic drama set in rural New Zealand.
Acting
Edith Poor's trembling restraint before the crack.
Cinematography
New Zealand isolation as erotic pressure cooker.
Direction
Van Beek frames desire through nature, not exploitation.
Director
Claire van Beek
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
New Zealand's film heritage of female directors exploring repressed sexuality (think Jane Campion's early work) finds fresh ground in van Beek's short format precision.
The blue-tongued lizard isn't arbitrary—it's a species that sheds its skin, mirroring Joan's literal and metaphorical shedding in the film's climax.
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