Bunuel Films

Bourgeois morality is for me immoral and to be fought. The morality founded on our most unjust social institutions, like religion, patriotism, the family, culture: briefly, what are called ‘the pillars of society’.” - Luis Bunuel

192. Discreet Charm of the Bourgeois (1972) - Mild piece of surrealism and unshocking satire of a group of French Bourgeois (Businessmen, South American Ambassadors, Army officers, a bishop, shallow socialites). No plot, just a series of vignettes - some funny, some weird, some satirical, some just boring. The "satire" is so absurd and mild it didn't affect me. Bunuel's direction is clear but flat. The acting is the high point of the movie. I enjoyed parts of it. Not bad but overpraised - Rating - **1/2

193. Un Chien Andalou (1929) - Bunuel short film - seventeen minutes of bizarre images and dream-logic. A woman gets her eyeball cut, a young man poking a severed hand in the street with a rod - pointless shock images. The kind of highly praised "art" that has no doubt inspired a dozen academic film studies - and turned a thousand students off "art" films. Pointless and boringRating - Zero

194. L'age d'or (1930) Dali and Bunuel team up again to for this 60 minutes surrealist film. Some striking images. The main plot seems to be a couple trying to have sex and being thwarted by nearly everyone and everything. In addition there are many pointless bizarre surreal images such as crippled soldiers who use guns for crutches or a cow in the leading lady's bedroom. Some crude anti-Christian scenes. Bunuel was a communist when he made it, so it follows the party line. Rating - *

195. Simon of the Desert (1965) Story: In the middle ages, Saint Simeon Stylites lives on a small pillar, where he has been praying for six years. Atop the pillar, he receives many adulators and priests but mostly spends his time resisting the temptations of the Devil (Sylvia Pinal). A watchable oddity. Excellent pacing and surrealistic storytelling but weakly ends at the 45 minute mark. A satire on the Catholic Church and St. Simon. The bits attacking Simon's hypocritical followers seem to be stolen by Monty Python. Not bad -but anti-Christian. Rating - **

196. The Phantom of Liberty (1974) A kind of Follow-up to DiscreetCharm only its longer and much less charming/funny. The usual Bunuel absurd, surreal incidents: e priests playing cards while smoking and drinking, parents reacting to postcards of famous buildings given their daughter by a stranger as they were obscene, a writer killing people from his sniping-position at the roof of a building and being found not guilty etc. We also get the continuing mix-up of characters. Someone suggested Bunuel was trying to mock traditional storytelling in film. But no, its just the same old Bunuel. Monty Python is far superior. Rating - *1/2

197. Viridiana (1961) - Dull, B&W, badly acted film about young Sister Viridiana and all her troubles. At the start, she returns home to visit her uncle who supported her novitiate. The Uncle tries to rape her - fails -and commits suicide And then the fun begins. Sorry I lied. It then gets sadder, duller and even more "surrealistic" . Another unoriginal attack on Christianity and the Catholic Church. Unlike "Simon" or "Discreet" its not well directed. The hype seems politically motivated and comes from the movie (i) attacking the Catholic Church (ii) being some sort of attack on Franco's Spain. And as we know, there's nothing left-wing critics love more than attacks on Franco. Bad Rating *

198. The Exterminating Angel (1962) Bunuel. A dinner party of rich people find they can't leave the mansion. Another pointless Bunuel "surreal "comedy. As usual with Bunuel the acting is excellent and there a few funny moments, but the pace is too slow and the humor and action repetitious A one note movie that goes on way too long. Somewhat similar to "Discreet Charm of the Bourgeois" which was much better. Rating *1/2

199. Diary of a Chambermaid (1964) Based on the 1900 Novel by Octave Mirbeau. Tells the the story of Parisian Maid (Jeanne Moreau) who travels from Paris to a country mansion be the maid for a bourgeois couple. Well acted by Moreau, well directed, and -thankfully - without the usual Bunuel surrealism. However, the story and characters are dis-likable and predictable. Since Bunuel is dealing with the "Bourgeois" everyone (except for the maid and few servants) must be shown as weird, criminal, or sexually dysfunctional. The most unbelievable character is the sinister gamekeeper, "Joseph" who alternates between making patriotic and anti-semitic remarks with killing and raping small girls. A priest makes a cameo appearance so Bunuel can engage in some hamfisted "satire". Another Bunuel film whose reputation is due to politics more than artistic merit.

Obscure Object of Desire (1977) A man becomes obsessed by a girl (played by 2 separate actresses) who tantalizes him, but never allow him to satisfy his desire for her. Made by Bunuel when he was 77 this surreal sex comedy is better than most of his pictures. Well acted and directed - but again its one joke repeated over and over. Still, it has its funny moments. Rating - **1/2