Stealing Heaven is a 1988 film based on the love story of Peter Abelard and Héloïse, who are probably the most famous real lovers from the Medieval era. We are introduced to Héloïse as a novice in a convent school, where her impertinent questions cause her instructor Sister Cecilia great dismay. The kindly abbess, far more tolerant, realizes that Héloïse has no calling for a religious life, and instead sends her off for further education in Paris. There at the University Héloïse encounters the popular yet controversial Peter Abelard, who has students engage in very lively public debates on many moral and theological questions. He is charmed by Héloïse, whose sharp wit and intellect is a match for his. Before too long, the pair have clearly fallen in love. Héloïse is eager to go further with Abelard, yet by custom the teachers are to remain celibate. Moreover, her uncle Canon Fulbert (
Denholm Elliott) is intent upon marrying Héloïse off to a rich man, whatever her wishes, and she is under his guardianship. Despite this, Abelard soon gives in to her urging and the pair begin an affair. However, danger looms for them both when knowledge of the secret leaks out...
Examples:
- Arranged Marriage: Fulbert has this planned out for Héloïse with some rich young man in Paris.
- Artistic License – History: Though largely accurate, some liberties are taken.
- The film portrays Héloïse as a novice who leaves her convent school, abandoning that path for the University of Paris. In reality there's no evidence she ever was a novice or studied in a convent school, and when Abelard met her she was a well-known scholar on her own already.
- Abelard actually stated he tried to seduce Héloïse, when in the film it's portrayed as her doing so. He said this was because of her fame noted above.
- Whether Canon Fulbert was punished isn't recorded.
- What became of Astrolabe isn't known, as Abelard only mentioned him once and Héloïse did not at all.
- Abelard actually married Héloïse to appease Fulbert, rather than it being kept from him (in secret, for his University career).
- It's unknown if Fulbert actually ordered Abelard attacked, though as some friends of his did it, that's possible.
- The film also omits Abelard's later troubles after becoming a monk (he was expelled from one abbey over antagonizing the monks with a dispute, plus twice accused of heresy and officially sanctioned for it).
- Héloïse conversely has her radically proto-feminist ideas in later life (drawn from her letters to Abelard) wholly unmentioned (saying she preferred love to marriage, describing the latter as prostitution etc.).
- The Atoner: After his castration, Abelard grows convinced he's been punished for the affair by God, becoming a monk as penance. He convinces Héloïse to become a nun as well, for the same reason, though she doesn't agree what they did is wrong.
- Bar Brawl: A fight breaks out in a Paris tavern between Abelard's students after his affair is revealed.
- Based on a True Story: The film tells the love story of Peter Abelard and Héloïse-the two were not only real, but it's become famous.
- Blackmail: The maid, after learning about the affair, subtly threatens Héloïse with revealing it to get one of her old tunics (far finer than a servant ordinarily could afford).
- But I Would Really Enjoy It: His students send a prostitute to Abelard, but he resists temptation and simply lies beside her. Later though he can't resist Héloïse's charms.
- Child of Forbidden Love: Astrolabe, son of Abelard and Héloïse due to their illicit affair.
- Confessional: Abelard goes to confession twice in the film over his thoughts about and acts with Héloïse.
- Constantly Curious: Héloïse is like this, asking a lot of difficult questions in regards to the Bible or theology. To some, it's distressing. Others such as the abbess, archbishop and later on Abelard find it charming though.
- Crisis of Faith: Héloïse suffers this after Abelard is castrated, alternating between cursing God and disbelieving that he exists.
- Disproportionate Retribution: Fulbert has Abelard castrated for the embarrassment the affair caused him, along with a loss of income from Héloïse marrying a rich man.
- Fiery Redhead: Héloïse, who has flaming hair and a bold, inquisitive personality. Both her beauty and intellect clearly charm Abelard, along with other people.
- Forbidden Love: Abelard and Héloïse's illicit affair, due to a number of factors. They include the demand he remain celibate as a teacher, that her uncle is going to arrange Héloïse's marriage with someone else and of course since they're not married also (a serious matter in the setting).
- Good Girls Avoid Abortion: The older woman who realizes Héloïse is pregnant says if she used the rennet of a hare, this could have prevented it and might even still work, clearly implying abortion. Héloïse barely listens to her though, delighted that she's pregnant with Abelard's child.
- Good Shepherd: The abbess and the archbishop are kind, tolerant clerics, in contrast to some others we see.
- Groin Attack: Abelard is castrated by men whom Fulbert hires in revenge for humiliating him with the affair.
- Making Love in All the Wrong Places: Abelard and Héloïse impulsively have sex in the stables (with the maid spying on them).
- Nay-Theist: Héloïse becomes very angry with God over Abelard being castrated, and even questions if he's real. Later it seems she's gone back into faith though.
- Parental Abandonment:
- There's no mention of what happened to Héloïse's parents. Apparently her uncle is the closest living male relative of hers though, as she's put into his guardianship. In real life no one knows, as information is scant on her life.
- Abelard and Héloïse put their son into the care of his sister after they enter monastic lives. They only see him again later when he's grown up.
- The Philosopher: Abelard, who is a famous teacher at the University of Paris. Héloïse is to a lesser degree too, with her questions impressing him. In reality, they were both renowned philosophers, and their work is still read, with lasting influence.
- Sacred Hospitality: One reason why the affair between Abelard and Héloïse is illicit stems from this. Abelard is a guest of her uncle, living in his house. So "ruining" her is a serious breach of this.
- Taking the Veil: Héloïse reluctantly becomes a nun due to Abelard's urging, but is clearly unhappy during the ceremony, declining to kiss the crucifix with the excuse of being unworthy but pretty obviously from spite.
- Teacher/Student Romance: The plot of the film, between the teacher Peter Abelard and student Héloïse.
- Vow of Celibacy: Though not formally sworn, Abelard is effectively under this as he teaches at the University of Paris, and teachers there are expected to remain celibate. It's one reason why his relationship with Héloïse is kept secret. Later, they both take them formally as part of becoming a monk and nun respectively (despite then being married), that they keep.
- Wall Bang Her: This is how Abelard and Héloïse have sex at one point.
- We Need a Distraction: To sneak out of the house with the city watch on alert, Abelard students cause a disturbance which draws their attention off.
