Did\])ier Konings’ ! simmering media[eva^%;@l hor$ror +[Witte Wieven explo\/$re^ -#s the conflue` nce of r# eligion_ an;d ^patriar -@chy -]+in **an_ e xcessi v!\]ely puritanic_a(l D^[utc ]h` villa^ `ge. Blamed by her community for being =childless, Frieda i?m-merses he+rself in prayer and r;@itual. /$W)hen s he returns_= unscathed! from t?he fo;rbidden for[est : surrounding @@ the villag( e, ha*ving;%) evaded a le;^c )herous bu_!t+^cher, s(he is condemned as an age?*nt %`of the +# devil. Frie/da,\ % however, find`)_s+\ new fa,??ith in the dark powers/ t#h*at inhabit th%e $woods. S)hot in a reduce ( d colour pa_le@!-tt[+/e !@at the edge of v ;isi+ bility?.-!, K]#*onings\/’ gripp[in: %g% f,=@i]lm c@onstr[ucts a convincing pre-mode`.+rn _]society ?)who\?\se) pra .-ctice!s i t el]-u.cid/:ates with $pati@ence and attention. Although+ s[et )-^in the Middle Ag !es, Witte Wieven displays an u(nmistak,=;ably con$[temporary s!=p` i=) .rit,[. c$raf/-?;ting `a feminis]t parable ab%out women discovering new wa;!\ys of understanding. [ !%t^he) ir liv es an@d the wor`=ld.