Ostensibly a faithful adaptation of Pierre Klossowski'sautobiographical novel about the struggle between rival doctrinal factions within the Catholic Church, TheSuspended Vocation illustrates Ruiz's belief that institutions, in order to survive, must treat all forms ofdissidence as treason. In 1942, a film entitled The Suspended Vocation is begun by a group of monks;running out of money, they abandon the project. Twenty years later, a religious order hires a professionaldirector to again take up this film project. The director, having examined the earlier footage, concludesthat it is unusable. He decides to use professional actors, at which point the Church authorities, fearful ofescalating costs, withdraw their support. Finally, in 1971, a third attempt is made to rework all thematerial into a coherent form. Alternately baffling and hilarious, The Suspended Vocation appears at timesto be an invitation to young men to consider the priesthood; at other moments, a subplot impliesthat...fascists may have infiltrated the monastery and taken control. Richard Pe-a