This bizarre surrealist film follows the sexual obsessions of a priest and his battle against impure thoughts. When the priest becomes infatuated with the war general’s wife he spirals into a hallucinatory fit. The title refers to a scene where the priest (still wearing his white collar) tears a seashell-shaped bra off of the woman’s body (brief nudity ensues, much to my surprise). It is through these potent images that we realize the utter fearlessness of Dulac as a filmmaker. Dulac, no doubt, uses these controversial images and playful juxtapositions to rouse a visceral reaction in her viewer. What could be offensive, blasphemous, or indecent to one set of viewers could be absurd, hilarious, and simply ridiculous to others.It is clear, above all else, that Dulac was challenging male sexuality as something evil and contrary to god--it is unclear whether her critique is of repressive religious beliefs or of male sexuality more generally.
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