When the film was released in Spain in 1961, it caused outrage. The Catholic regime of Franco banned it from Spanish cinemas. Damning articles in the Vatican's official organ, l'Osservatore Romano, said it was an insult not just to Catholicism, but to Christianity itself.

That the film is subversive of Catholicism is no surprise. Buñuel was an Atheist and had issues with the Catholic Church over its support of Franco and for other positions that it took.

Viridiana is the story of a young novitiate - played by Silvia Pinal - who is drugged and almost raped by an uncle, during a visit to his country estate.

After the suicide of the uncle, Viridiana remains on the estate with her cousin Jorge. She gathers together a group of beggars from the local village with the intention of feeding and educating them. At one point when the new owners are absent, the beggars break into the house.

In a scene that was enormously offensive to the Vatican, the crew is shown sitting around the table in a scene reminiscent of Da Vinci's painting of the Last Supper.

A closing scene in the movie that also caused offense, shows Viridiana with her hair loose, after burning the 'crown of thorns' she wore to enhance her devotions. She knocks the door of Jorge's bedroom and finds him in the company of the servant Ramona. Jorge invites Viridiana to join them saying they were 'only playing cards' - suggestive of a ménage à trois.