Stealing Heaven

Peter Abelard is a famous teacher of philosophy at the cathedral school of Notre Dame, and students come from all over Europe to hear him. Among them is the young Héloïse, raised in a convent, intellectually curious and in revolt against the place assigned to women in twelfth century Europe. When her uncle Fulbert invites him into the house to teach her, a passionate relationship begins between the two of them. Once people start to suspect, Fulbert and the bishop of Paris act together; Héloïse becomes pregnant and they marry in secret. Abelard wrestles with the thought that he has gone against the will of God and at the same time cannot give up this love. In Clive Donner’s hundred and eight minute film, Derek de Lint plays Abelard, Kim Thomson plays Héloïse and Denholm Elliott plays Fulbert; it was completed in 1988.