The Seashell and the Clergyman main backdrop
The Seashell and the Clergyman main poster

The Seashell and the Clergyman

Visit website

6.7/10 • 65

1928-10-010h 41m

DramaFantasy

Obsessed with a general's wife, a clergyman has strange visions of death and lust, struggling against his own eroticism.

Directors
Germaine Dulac
Writters
Antonin Artaud, Germaine Dulac

Top Billed Cast

View Credits
  1. Alex Allin

    Alex Allin

    The Clergyman

  2. Lucien Bataille

    Lucien Bataille

    The Officer

  3. Genica Athanasiou

    Genica Athanasiou

    The Woman

Reviews1

View Reviews
CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Jun 6, 2022

7/10

Germaine Dulac has created a monster here... Not in any kaiju sense, but by taking a surreal swipe at just about every element of the masculine-driven, religiously flawed environment of the world in the 1920s. The eponymous priest - Alex Allin harbours none too subtle desires about the mistress of "le général" (Lucien Bataille) - the beautiful Genica Athanasiou, and the next half hour illustrates some of the complex ramifications of this infatuation. Now I have watched this many times, each time thinking as I get older, that the penny may drop and that I shall discover a deeper meaning... Each time, I thoroughly enjoy the intimate, creative imagery and the truly characterful performances, but am still really none the wiser. I think that's what is enthralling about this short enigma of a feature. It stimulates questions, but doesn't answer any of them... Clearly, the director has an agenda, and a political point to make - but we are left to imagine a healthy amount of what this might be about. Is it erotic? Is it about frustration, excess...? I still don't really know....

Media

  • The Seashell and the Clergyman poster
  • The Seashell and the Clergyman poster
  • The Seashell and the Clergyman poster

Recommendations

  • No Backdrop

    Três Espelhos

    7.0

  • Record 957 main backdrop

    Record 957

    7.1

  • Fuses main backdrop

    Fuses

    5.9

  • Bicycle Thieves main backdrop

    Bicycle Thieves

    8.2

  • La Haine main backdrop

    La Haine

    8.1

  • Being There main backdrop

    Being There

    7.6

  • Hotel Chevalier main backdrop

    Hotel Chevalier

    6.9

  • To Have and Have Not main backdrop

    To Have and Have Not

    7.5

  • All of Us Strangers main backdrop

    All of Us Strangers

    7.4

  • Inception main backdrop

    Inception

    8.4

  • Happiness main backdrop

    Happiness

    7.5

  • Napoleon main backdrop

    Napoleon

    7.8

  • Locked main backdrop

    Locked

    6.2

  • GoodFellas main backdrop

    GoodFellas

    8.5

  • Amélie main backdrop

    Amélie

    7.9

  • Scandal in Sorrento main backdrop

    Scandal in Sorrento

    6.9

  • Woman in the Dunes main backdrop

    Woman in the Dunes

    8.2

  • The Dark Knight main backdrop

    The Dark Knight

    8.5

  • Starman main backdrop

    Starman

    6.9

  • Hello main backdrop

    Hello

    6.3

Status
Released
Original Language
French
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
sexual obsessionsexual frustrationsurrealismlustavant-gardesilent filmcatholic priestwoman directorfrench impressionismexperimental film