A Certain Sacrifice

A Certain Sacrifice
Swedish VHS front cover
Directed by	Stephen Jon Lewicki
Written by	Stephen Jon Lewicki Jeremy Pattnosh Robert Manganaro Morris
Starring	Madonna Jeremy Pattnosh Charles Kurtz
Narrated by	Chuck Varesko
Music by	Jeremy Pattnosh
Cinematography	Stephen Jon Lewicki
Edited by	Stephen Jon Lewicki Robert Manganaro Morris
Production company	Cine Cine Productions
Distributed by	Vidimax Home Entertainment Virgin Video Worldvision Home Video
Release date	October 1, 1985
Running time	60 min.
Country	United States
Language	English

A Certain Sacrifice is a 1985 American drama film co-written and directed by Stephen Jon Lewicki and starring Madonna, Jeremy Pattnosh and Charles Kurtz. It was Madonna's first movie, filmed around September 1979, but not released until 1985.

The film is an "oddball" independent film, shot on-and-off over two years in New York City for just $20,000. Madonna finished her scenes in the Fall of 1980. Almost all of the cast were unpaid.

Madonna played the part of Bruna, a Lower East Side resident who lives with three "love slaves" (one male, one female, one transgender). Bruna meets Dashiell (Pattnosh) in the water fountain in Washington Square Park and the two "fall in love". Bruna tells her lovers she doesn't need them anymore. They attack her sexually (this scene caused controversy since Madonna is topless). Later, Bruna is raped by Raymond Hall (Kurtz) in a bathroom at a coffee shop. To exact retribution, Bruna enlists her love slaves and Dashiell to abduct the rapist. They dress up as hookers and lure him into a limo. They lead him to a theatre where a Satanic sacrifice is performed. Dashiell later wipes Raymond's blood all over Bruna.

Despite Madonna's second thoughts about having participated in this movie, Lewicki had nothing but compliments for her. One of his oft-repeated stories was how he "discovered" Madonna and was amazed that she hand-wrote a three-page letter for a part that didn't even pay. She was only paid $100, only because she was short on her apartment rent and Lewicki paid to help out. In Christopher Andersen's 1991 biography, Madonna Unauthorized, Lewicki stated: "That woman has more sensuality in her ear than most women have anywhere on their bodies".

Actor Jeremy Pattnosh wrote and performed several songs in the film, including: "Certain Sacrifice" & "Screamin' Demon Lover".

In 1985, A Certain Sacrifice was released on video to capitalize on Madonna's fame, and in 1986, there were theatrical midnight screenings. Madonna tried to buy the rights from director Stephen Jon Lewicki for $5,000. Unsuccessful, she then attempted to ban the film from being seen. Stephen Lewicki invited her to view it; Madonna was reportedly unhappy with the result. According to Lewicki, she had an expression of horror on her face and screamed: "Fuck you" as she stormed out of his apartment.