The film is about a young woman's (Lulú) sexual awakening. She experiements in a range of sexual practices and taboos.

The film was cut in the UK by two minutes and 55 seconds by the BBFC. These cuts include an S&M orgy at a gay club being shortened, a man sexually touching Lulu and a sex scene; these scenes were restored for the 2002 DVD release. In addition to these cuts an opening scene were Lulu is baptised was cut as Lulu's vagina is exposed to camera; this shot is considered to be in breach of the Child Protection Act. The 2002 UK DVD required 1:15 cuts for baptism scene; a new title sequence was used instead.

The film has also been criticized[by whom?] for its sex scenes and themes of incest.