Aldous Huxley's story of political and spiritual conflicts in turbulent 17th century France is given the old Ken Russell treatment. In other words, this film is a vivid collection of gross and horrific images, plus a fair bit of flesh just to keep your attention (naughty nuns, pernicious priests and androgynous aristos - the usual things). It's all wrapped together in Russell's inimitable fashion and about as subtle as a fist in the face. By a great effort of will, Oliver Reed (not exactly the king of subtlety) manages to give his portrayal of the priest at the centre of things some amount of credibility and dignity amid a seething mass of grotesque comic strip characters. But like many grotesque things, Russell's film is curiously fascinating, if mostly for the wrong reasons.


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