A strong tale of repression , obsession , celibacy , religious restriction , and forbidden love in which a priest is tempted by erotic desires . Obsessed with sexual fantasies , Father Miguel seeks professional help through other priests as the traditional Father Alfonso (José Franco) and a priest militant of a left-wing ideology Padre Luis (Emilio Gutiérrez Caba) , but they are not understanding him . As his physical desire coming to head with the celibacy , then the celibate Catholic priest falls in love with a married woman (Esperanza Roy) to a mistreating husband (Jose Manuel Cervino) , but risks escalate when he feels really disturbed in falling into ¨Sins¨. As he foolishly embarks on a walk of self-destruction , masochism , and culpability . Things go wrong when he returns his local village along with his mother (Queta Claver) , as he remembers his dark past , including father's (Raúl Fraire) mistreating , and his twisted relationships with childhood friends . At the final point the film abruptly finishes and , including unexpected as well as dire consequences .
This is a provoking and enlightening story in which sex desires collide with priesthood , forbidden loves , violence and self-flagellation . However , it is full of sensationalism , blasphemy , nudism , mutilation , and sexual aberrations as Sado-masochism , inter-courses , tortures , abuses and Zoofilia . This grim and politically incorrect film describes a strong confrontation between human nature and celibacy ; thus leaving the Father in a deep dilemma ; abandoning the Catholic church or should he attempt , on his own , to surrender to these erotic temptations? . Set in 1967 and including some political remarks from this troublesome period , and apparition of some posters showings usual events at the time as sexy advert or Festival Eurovision with Sandie Shaw . It displays a complex , extreme and curious screenplay by Enrique Barreiro and Eloy De La Iglesia himself . Nice acting by Simón Andreu as an upsetting priest who has a tryst with a married woman and becomes involved with an extreme obsession . Support cast is pretty good , such as José Vivó , José Franco , Africa Pratt ,José Manuel Cervino , Amparo Climent , Emilio Fornet , Antonio Gamero , and finally Queta Claver . Sad but appropriate musical score by Carmelo Bernaola. And evocative and atmospheric cinematography by Magi Torruella.
This sensationalistic film "The Priest¨ was regularly directed by Eloy De La Iglesia . Most his films dealt with sex including shots of nude males , homosexuality , politics and forbidden lovers . De La Iglesia was a notorious communist militant , drug addict and homosexual , these personal characteristics were widely shown in his films . Eloy was a talented Spanish movies director , he began working in cinema in 1966 , at his 22 years old , he debuted in a kiddies production , ¨Fantasy 3¨(66) . Following a sordid melodrama ¨Algo Amargo En La Boca¨ (67) and a boxing story , ¨Cuadrilatero¨(69) . De La Iglesia realizes a lot of thrilling pictures with erotic background as ¨Techo Cristal¨(70) , ¨Nadie Oyó Gritar¨ (72) , ¨Gota Sangre Para Seguir Amando¨ (73) , and scabrous tales as ¨Juegos Amor Prohibido¨(75) , ¨Otra Alcoba¨ (76) . And concerning youthful gay : ¨Placeres Ocultos¨(76) , ¨El Sacerdote¨(78) and politicians : ¨The Deputy ¨, ¨Mujer Del Ministro¨ . Although he became notorious in the years of the Spanish transition to democracy with shocking and polemic films as ¨El Pico 1¨ and 2¨ , ¨Cólegas¨ , ¨Navajeros¨, ¨La Estanquera De Vallecas¨ (87) . All of them dealt with druggies , dope sellers , delinquency , terrorism , underworld suburban and generational problems are the habitual subjects in his films , and specially dedicated to the underworld of heroin ; as well as the gay world . Passing of time hasn't had mercy with most of those movies , but they represented a time and a way of life in the history of Spain ; and now they may seem a little bit naive . His last films were an academic rendition based on Henry James' novel : ¨The turn of the screw¨ and ¨Los Novios Búlgaros¨.
