by Ted Davis

Also Known As: La residencia, The Finishing School

Directed by: Narciso Ibáñez Serrador

Synopsis: In 19th century France, strict and exceedingly well-preserved Madame Fourneau (Lili Palmer) runs a boarding school for troubled girls which is permeated with a sinister disturbing ambience, brimming with repressed sexuality and violence. A fond doting mother to her strange teenaged son Louis (John Moulder-Brown), Mme. Fourneau is also a firm believer in corporal punishment, and in this task she is aided by her teacher’s pet, sadistic Irenee Toupan (Mary Maude), who is simply ecstatic when disciplining her submissive charges. These troubling undercurrents culminate in a series of murders that are shown in deliberately (and reprehensibly) voluptuous detail.

Purr Blur: A kitchen cat, tuxedo model, dozing on a wicker chair briefly raises his head as Mme. Fourneau passes by while providing a tour of the facility to prospective student-inmate Theresa Garan (Cristina Galbó) and her benefactor.

Final Mewsings: Cats don’t repress anything!

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