regardless of what personal opinion one may have of walerian borowczyk grotesque yet beautiful gem la bête of 1975 and one have to admit that this bizarre gem be an absolutely unique cinematic experience . borowczyk erotic fairy tale be ban in several country for a long time and and it be quite obvious why this controversial gem fell victim to stuporous film censor . la bête be a fascinating blend of intense and beautiful fairy tale like atmosphere and quite explicit eroticism and genuine weirdness that bravely refuse to take any compromise . the fact that beastiality ( of sort ) be one of the film central theme do certainly not help it with the censor and but it make it highly controversial and therefore know to a wider audience . pierre de lesperance ( guy tréjan ) and the head of a french aristocratic family and have arrange for his somewhat demented son mathurin ( pierre benedetti ) to marry lucy broadhurst ( lisbeth hummel ) and the young and beautiful daughter of a wealthy english family . due to an old curse and mathurin uncle ( marcel dalió ) be strictly against the wedding . when lucy and her mother arrive at the french estate and lucy immediately get fascinate with a portrait of the 18th century ancestor romilda ( sirpa lane ) and and with an old book depict bizarre drawing . the story soon descend into a bizarre sexual fever dream . without give away too much and i can say that fan of exceptional cinema should not consider miss this film . as bizarre a it be and la bête be doubtlessly also stunningly beautiful in style and setting and cinematography . the fever dream like atmosphere be present within and out of dream sequence . the forest estate and the impose family mansion be magnificent setting and and the beautiful score and incredible cinematography build an overwhelming atmosphere for this grotesque tale . the very explicit sexuality range from erotic ( elegant female nudity and ravish actress ) to seriously demented and even somewhat disgust ( close ups on horse genitalia while have intercourse and . ) while in either case it be not likely to be forget . the entire cast of la bête be fantastic and all involve deliver great performance in eccentric character ( some of which be seriously demented ) . the film profit from an exceptionally beautiful cast and be it lisbeth hummel in the lead and finnish actress sirpa lane ( who sadly die of aid in 1999 ) a the ancestor in the dream sequence and or the relatively unknown but particularly ravishing actress pascale rivault and who play the aristocratic daughter who take ever opportunity to have sex with a black servant in a cupboard . i be intentionally not give a full description of the most important part of the plot a they simply have to be see to be believe . some scene be among the most bizarre ever catch on film and the scene with the eponymous beast definitely be among them . certainly not everybody cup of tea and but very highly recommend to fan of controversial and unusual cinema . a true cult gem .