Letter to Editor. Possession-unraveled.

Medical College and Krakow Branch of Polish Psychiatric Association organised screening of the movie entitled: " Walka z szatanem " (" Fight against Satan ") in Con-The discussion on the images shown in Konrad Szołajski's documentary involved a large group of representatives of various research communities, among whom were psychiatrists, psychotherapists, the clergy, philosophers, representatives of the world of art and students. In the movie, the director tackles the problem of possession. It shows the story of three women whose lives were shaped around a belief of being under the power of the devil. The movie depicted the involvement of the social and family systems – representatives of church, family members – in the " fight against the evil one ". This " evil one " manifests itself in many ways, deranging homeostasis of mental and social life of main characters. Sexual desire in relation to a person of the same sex (nun), difficulties in relationships with peers and discharging school duties, discontinuation of participation in regular religious practices, a significant narrowing of interpersonal relationships outside the family, are the examples of what was considered as manifestation of action of the Satan. Consultations with specialists exorcists by empirical ways confirmed the suspicions and led to the use of liberating interventions on the " possessed " ones. The eye of the camera moved the audience to an intimate space in which the acts of exorcisms were performed. In the atmosphere of drama the affected women spat exorcised water, refused to receive the sacraments from a young deacon, they kick the church representatives, made noises " from hell ". Often a help of at least several men, who get involved with zeal in fulfilling the obligation of imposed labour in the fight for deliverance, was needed to enslave the force of the impure. The rituals took on the character of regular meetings, bringing only temporary relief of symptoms. Concentration of family life has