El sacerdote
Encyclopedia
El Sacerdote is a 1978
Spanish film
directed by Eloy de la Iglesia
and starring Simón Andreu
, Emilio Gutiérrez Caba
and Esperanza Roy
. The plot centers in a catholic priest who suffers a personal crisis when his sexuality is suddenly awaken. Unable to reconcile his deep conservative religious faith with his sexual obsession he spiral in a path of self punishment. The script was first offer to Pilar Miro
In his disturbed state of mind father, Miguel seeks advice from the more worldly and modern father Luis. Miguel entered religious life at age fourteen and, unlike Father Luis, never had sexual experiences with women. However Miguel feels ashamed asking about sex and he tells Luis to forget the matter before reveling what is tormenting him.
Alarmed by Miguel’s behavior, father Alfonso, the leader of the congregation, separate father Miguel from normal services to the community. Antonia is given a new confessor while Miguel is placed in charge of classes at the local school. He begins to give religious instruction to children who are getting ready for their first communion. However, Miguel sexual obsessions continue. Even the sight of one of the young boys playing with a pellet between his tights brings sexual images to Miguel’s mind. To calm down his sexual desires Miguel resorts to penitence and self flagellation punishing his own flesh with a cilice
. This weakens his health
The boy is Antonia’s son and Miguel sees her again during the child’s first communion. Seeing her with he husband Miguel’s imagines having sex with her husband as she used to describe to him during confession. Miguel visits a bar, makes arrangements to have sex with a prostitute, but back down at the last minute. He is so disturbed but his sexuality he falls sick. Father Francisco sends him to recuperate at his native village where Miguel’s widow mother still lives.
Once in his hometown father Miguel begins to recover his strength. While visiting his mother, he walks across town and remembers events from his childhood. His irascible father who beat him merciless and the sexual adventures of his classmates, who went skinny seeping in a river comparing the size of their penises and have sex with farm animals.
Back in the city and his religious community things has changed. One of the priests had a girlfriend and has left the order to marry her. Miguel seems initially better but he is still tormented by constant sexual thoughts. He sees again Antonia whose marriage is not going well. She wants to divorce her husband. Miguel visits her at her house. Antonia tells him that all along she has been in love with him. Her confession where aimed to arouse Miguel’s interest. Miguel and Antonia have sex but he is overwhelmed by guilt for what he has done. During Christmas celebrations Miguel, tormented and deeply disturbed, locks himself in his room. He uses garden scissors to castrates himself.
Miguel survives his castration. He is sent to a mental institution. Once deemed healthy again he returns to his community were many things have changed. He sees Antonia once again. She is now separated from her husband and would like to rekindle their relationship. Miguel tells her that is too late for that. Finally at ease, Miguel leaves his religious life and his community. He has lost his faith.
1978 in film
The year 1978 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* February 1 - Bob Dylan's film Renaldo and Clara, a documentary of the "Rolling Thunder Revue" tour premieres in Los Angeles, California....
Spanish film
Cinema of Spain
The art of motion-picture making within the nation of Spain or by Spanish filmmakers abroad is collectively known as Spanish Cinema.In recent years, Spanish cinema has achieved high marks of recognition as a result of its creative and technical excellence...
directed by Eloy de la Iglesia
Eloy de la Iglesia
Eloy de la Iglesia was a Spanish screenwriter and film director.De la Iglesia was an outspoken gay socialist filmmaker who is relatively unknown outside of Spain despite a prolific and successful career in his native country...
and starring Simón Andreu
Simón Andreu
Simón Andreu is a Spanish actor. He has appeared in over 135 films since 1961.-Selected filmography:* The Good Love * Bad Man's River * The Blood Spattered Bride * El sacerdote...
, Emilio Gutiérrez Caba
Emilio Gutiérrez Caba
Emilio Gutiérrez Caba is a Spanish film and television actor.-Personal:Caba is the son of actors Emilio Gutierrez and Irene Caba Alba and brother of the actresses Irene Gutiérrez Caba and Julia Gutiérrez Caba...
and Esperanza Roy
Esperanza Roy
Esperanza Roy, is a Spanish actress.She started with revue shows before she debuted in film in 1962. Her husband is the Basque film director Javier Aguirre Fernández.- Filmography:* El comisario TV...
. The plot centers in a catholic priest who suffers a personal crisis when his sexuality is suddenly awaken. Unable to reconcile his deep conservative religious faith with his sexual obsession he spiral in a path of self punishment. The script was first offer to Pilar Miro
Pilar Miró
Pilar Miró was a Spanish screenwriter and film director.She directed TVE from 1986 to 1989, and in the 90's, the weddings of the daughters of King Juan Carlos I. In 1992, her film Beltenebros won the Silver Bear for an outstanding artistic contribution at the 42nd Berlin International Film...
Plot
Father Miguel is a conservative thirty six years old Catholic priest. In the changing Spain of the late 1970s Miguel’s religious community tries to implement the doctrines given by the second Vatican council and adapt to the new democratic Spain. Father Miguel opposes any form of religious modernization. He clashes with, Father Luis, a fellow priest of his community who employs more modern tactics of religious instruction. Miguel begins to experience a personal crisis when a road sign, displaying a beautiful woman wearing a provocative bikini, awakes his long repressed sexuality. Miguel is constantly tormented by sexual thoughts. His sexuality is further arouse by Antonia, a beautiful married woman in her thirties, who in her confessions tells father Miguel about her intense and sexual encounters with her husband. Antonia’s confessions disturb father Miguel. He thinks about sex all the time to the point of impairing his work as a priest.In his disturbed state of mind father, Miguel seeks advice from the more worldly and modern father Luis. Miguel entered religious life at age fourteen and, unlike Father Luis, never had sexual experiences with women. However Miguel feels ashamed asking about sex and he tells Luis to forget the matter before reveling what is tormenting him.
Alarmed by Miguel’s behavior, father Alfonso, the leader of the congregation, separate father Miguel from normal services to the community. Antonia is given a new confessor while Miguel is placed in charge of classes at the local school. He begins to give religious instruction to children who are getting ready for their first communion. However, Miguel sexual obsessions continue. Even the sight of one of the young boys playing with a pellet between his tights brings sexual images to Miguel’s mind. To calm down his sexual desires Miguel resorts to penitence and self flagellation punishing his own flesh with a cilice
Cilice
A cilice was originally a garment or undergarment made of coarse cloth or animal hair used in some religious traditions to induce some degree of discomfort or pain as a sign of repentance and atonement...
. This weakens his health
The boy is Antonia’s son and Miguel sees her again during the child’s first communion. Seeing her with he husband Miguel’s imagines having sex with her husband as she used to describe to him during confession. Miguel visits a bar, makes arrangements to have sex with a prostitute, but back down at the last minute. He is so disturbed but his sexuality he falls sick. Father Francisco sends him to recuperate at his native village where Miguel’s widow mother still lives.
Once in his hometown father Miguel begins to recover his strength. While visiting his mother, he walks across town and remembers events from his childhood. His irascible father who beat him merciless and the sexual adventures of his classmates, who went skinny seeping in a river comparing the size of their penises and have sex with farm animals.
Back in the city and his religious community things has changed. One of the priests had a girlfriend and has left the order to marry her. Miguel seems initially better but he is still tormented by constant sexual thoughts. He sees again Antonia whose marriage is not going well. She wants to divorce her husband. Miguel visits her at her house. Antonia tells him that all along she has been in love with him. Her confession where aimed to arouse Miguel’s interest. Miguel and Antonia have sex but he is overwhelmed by guilt for what he has done. During Christmas celebrations Miguel, tormented and deeply disturbed, locks himself in his room. He uses garden scissors to castrates himself.
Miguel survives his castration. He is sent to a mental institution. Once deemed healthy again he returns to his community were many things have changed. He sees Antonia once again. She is now separated from her husband and would like to rekindle their relationship. Miguel tells her that is too late for that. Finally at ease, Miguel leaves his religious life and his community. He has lost his faith.
Cast
- Simón AndreuSimón AndreuSimón Andreu is a Spanish actor. He has appeared in over 135 films since 1961.-Selected filmography:* The Good Love * Bad Man's River * The Blood Spattered Bride * El sacerdote...
– Father Miguel - Emilio Gutiérrez CabaEmilio Gutiérrez CabaEmilio Gutiérrez Caba is a Spanish film and television actor.-Personal:Caba is the son of actors Emilio Gutierrez and Irene Caba Alba and brother of the actresses Irene Gutiérrez Caba and Julia Gutiérrez Caba...
– Father Luis - Esperanza RoyEsperanza RoyEsperanza Roy, is a Spanish actress.She started with revue shows before she debuted in film in 1962. Her husband is the Basque film director Javier Aguirre Fernández.- Filmography:* El comisario TV...
– Irene - José Franco – Father Alfonso
- Ramón Reparaz – Father Manuel
- José Vivó- Bishop
- África Pratt - Prostitute
- Queta Claver - Miguel’s mother