"That Obscure Object of Desire"

1. I think the film uses such a title to represent Conchita as an obscure object. To be obscure is to be ambiguous and not clear or plain; to be concealed or reduced. Matthieu believes that sexuality and love should be expressed together, as he wishes to; but Conchita constantly holds back, never allowing a sexual union, instead reveling in their shared love. Matthieu is shown to clearly love Conchita, but because she will not give herself to him fully, the relationship becomes unbalanced. While Conchita is satisfied with just spending time together, Matthieu can only focus on their lack of sexual connection. For this reason, Conchita becomes a sexual being in his eyes; she becomes the woman he can never fully possess; thus an object he can never fully possess. The only part of her he cannot have is her sexuality; therefore, it is the part he wants most. Conchita complains that he objectifies her by constantly insisting on intercourse (such as her repeated statements that she's "not that kind of girl"), and Matthieu denies this lustful focus; but in a way it is true, because he has become more obsessed with her sexuality than with her true being.
4. I believe the animal imagery is all used to convey how Matthieu is somehow an inferior, less intelligent (and overwhelmed) being that is caught in Conchita's trap. When the animal imagery appears, he thinks he is in control (when the mouse appears, he is planning to "purchase" Conchita; when the fly appears, he has temporarily lost Conchita but plans to get her back through his influential friend, the judge). Truly, though, Conchita proves herself to always be in control: she leaves when he attempts to pay for her, and she takes him back when he sees her in the resraurant. The imagery really represents Matthieu falling under her spell and into her traps. He is crushed and left by her after the mouse is caught in the trap; and he is "dead in the water" like the fly when in the restaurant, completely obsessed with getting her back and insisting that he cannot live without her. Matthieu is powerless to Conchita, despite the fact that he thinks he is the dominant person (displayed by how she is the one who reguarly ends the relationships).