El Sacerdote (English: The Priest) is a 1978 Spanish film directed by Eloy de la Iglesia and starring Simón Andreu, Emilio Gutiérrez Caba and Esperanza Roy.

The plot centres around a Catholic priest who suffers a personal crisis when his sexuality is suddenly awakened.

Unable to reconcile his deep conservative religious faith with his sexual obsession, he spirals into a path of self-punishment.

In the changing Spain of 1966 Miguel's religious community tries to implement the doctrines given by the Second Vatican Council and adapt to the new realities of the country.

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 his repressed sexuality is awaken by a road sign, displaying a beautiful woman wearing a provocative bikini.

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 revealing what is tormenting him.

Even the sight of one of the young boys playing with a pellet between his thighs brings sexual images to Miguel's mind.

His irascible father who beat him merciless and the sexual adventures of his classmates, who went skinny dipping in a river, compared the size of their penises and had sex with a farm animal.