Ken Russell's 'The Devils' uncut version to premiere at Cannes after 30-year ban

The Cannes Film Festival will screen the restored, uncut version of Ken Russell's 1971 film 'The Devils' on Thursday, May 22, 2025. The film, which the Vatican condemned as an 'insult' and was censored for over 30 years, will finally be shown in its entirety. Russell, a cult figure since the 1960s, was known for provocative blends of sex and death in his musical biopics. His earlier work for the TV series 'Omnibus' and 'Women in Love' (which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Director and a Best Actress award for Glenda Jackson) also stirred controversy, particularly for featuring male frontal nudity, a taboo in American cinema at the time. However, 'The Devils' surpassed all previous scandals. The restored version will be released in theaters as a cult title.