Cowards Bend the Knee

Cowards Bend the Knee also known as The Blue Hands is a 2003 film by Guy Maddin. Maddin directed Cowards Bend the Knee while in preproduction on The Saddest Music in the World, shooting entirely on Super8mm film with a budget of 30,000.

Cowards Bend the Knee is set in a vague time period that is stated in the published script and on the DVD commentary as the 1930s, although certain of the films events e.g., the Winnipeg Maroons winning the Allan Cup did not occur until the 1960s. Guy Maddin played by Darcy Fehr, star hockey player for the Winnipeg Maroons, is told by his father Maddin Sr Victor Cowie, the teams announcer, to visit his mother in the hospital since she is gravely ill. Maddin instead takes his girlfriend Veronica Amy Stewart to get an illegal abortion at the homebeauty salonbordello of Liliom Tara Birtwistle. During the operation, Guy more or less forgets about Veronica and ends up leaving with Lilioms alluring daughter Meta Melissa Dionisio. Veronica dies as a result of the botched abortion and perhaps despair at her abandonment.Meta reveals that her father, Chas, was murdered by Liliom with help from the police captain Shaky, who also plays hoceky with Guy. Chass hands, stained blue from hair dye, were severed during the murder and Meta keeps them with her in a jar. She rejects Guys sexual advances, saying that she wont be his until he murders Liliom and Shaky to revenge Chas. The abortionisthockey teams doctor, Dr. Fusi Louis Negin agrees to sever Guys hands and suture Chass hands in their place. ........

Source: Wikipedia