Viridiana
Viridiana
#1Viridiana
Posted: 3/31/09 at 10:30pm
Wow, I just watched watched this for the first time tonight and am still processing it. I've been a fan of Bunuel's for a while, and this will probably become one of my favorites. The whole Last Supper sequence has got to be one of the best ever filmed, by Bunuel or otherwise.
Is anyone else a fan of this movie? Thoughts to share?
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
#2re: Viridiana
Posted: 4/1/09 at 6:26am
If I had to choose one Bunuel film to represent his work, it would be Virdiana.
A remarkable piece of work with so many levels working that it is hard to catch them all in one viewing.
The juxtaposition of the sacred and the profane is certainly a well worn theme in film, but rarely has it been done with such striking imagery.
....but the world goes 'round
#2re: Viridiana
Posted: 4/1/09 at 6:40amI still have to see this one. I own it, but I haven't had a chance to watch it. I am a huge fan of Luis Bunuel and have a great biography about him. I have heard much about Viridiana and should watch it soon. Bunuel has so many great films!
"Love the Art in Yourself. Not Yourself in the Art." -- Stanislavski
#3re: Viridiana
Posted: 4/1/09 at 7:32am
Very good movie! We saw this on our spanish class... love the symbolism..the burning of the cross...thorns...and all...I thought she went from being a pious to an atheism- one extreme to another! I guess.. that's what happen when you leave the convent and venture to the "real world"!
One question though who have seen this movie? What you think of the ending? is it just me..or it was 'suggestive' that Viridiana will have a 3-some with the guy and his friend? its just how the movie close..it makes you guess.. what would have happen to her next? I love the movie! I think I saw another Bunuel movie.. I will think about it later...
J*
Updated On: 4/1/09 at 07:32 AM
#4re: Viridiana
Posted: 4/1/09 at 9:53am
I got the Criterion DVD and it has a wonderful essay and special features that comment on the ending. The original ending was rejected by the censors (oddly the only part of the movie that created an objection).
****spoiler****
It ended with Viridiana going into her cousin's room, sitting on the bed and closing the door. They were all alone and clearly implied they were going to have sex. According to Silvia Pinal the censors said that a devout virgin would never throw herself at another man that late in her life!
Bunuel thought up the ending apparently on the spot, and Pinal claims grew to like it more. She said it was supposed to represent an impending menge a trois. He told her to play it as if for the first time in her life she would be of some real use. She had given her life to the church and the betterment of humanity, and this was ultimately a waste. Now she would be able to have children, work the land, do some real good in the world. Pinal seems dejected at the end to me, but this was her motivation.
****end spoiler****
I'm still thinking about this like crazy today. I'm sure it will only get better with multiple viewings. This reminded me a lot of Diary of a Chambermaid in style, another awesome Bunuel film.
I feel a little pretentious telling people that I love Bunuel and think he is brilliant, but I really mean it! I think he totally deserves he reputation as one of the greatest directors of all time.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
#5re: Viridiana
Posted: 4/1/09 at 10:03am
I don't think it sounds pretentious at all. You're a lover of the visual arts.
You'll find many people on this board with whom you can share an intelligent discussion of film. Besty, Roscoe, Mister Matt,(in his own warped way, even Cruel Sandwich) and several others. It's one of my favorite aspects about the crowd on the OT board.
Criterion's releases are like film class in a box. Also, check out KINO. They put out some wonderful titles.
....but the world goes 'round
#6re: Viridiana
Posted: 4/1/09 at 10:10am
I love Criterion so much. I know it sounds very dorky, but I like to set aside several hours, watch the movie, read the booklet and then watch the special features.
You're right tazber, it's like having your own film class professor with you. I especially like the guy who does the commentary for most of the Bergman films. I think his name is Peter Cowie and he really knows his stuff.
Do you know if they've released Exterminating Angel yet? I heard there were plans, but haven't seen it anywhere.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
#7re: Viridiana
Posted: 4/1/09 at 10:15am
They have released Exterminating Angel. It came out about three weeks ago along with Simon Of The Desert.
....but the world goes 'round
Roscoe
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#8re: Viridiana
Posted: 4/1/09 at 10:16am
I wish Criterion would do a release of LAND WITHOUT BREAD.
Ah, well. Maybe after CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON.
"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." Thomas Pynchon, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick
My blog: http://www.roscoewrites.blogspot.com/
#9re: Viridiana
Posted: 4/1/09 at 10:38am
Awesome! I'll have to go on amazon and buy a copy. I've only seen a crappy VHS copy that had very sporadic subtitles.
Roscoe- I'm not familiar with Land Without Bread. Bunuel was talking about it during an interview in the bonus features of Viridiana though. Hopefully they will get the rights.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
Updated On: 4/1/09 at 10:38 AM
Roscoe
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#10re: Viridiana
Posted: 4/1/09 at 10:44amLAND WITHOUT BREAD is an amazing and upsetting movie, a pseudo-documentary about the crippling effects of poverty. I think there are assorted DVD releases of it, but it screams for a Criterion (basically a cleaned up and properly subtitled) release. I highly recommend it!
"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." Thomas Pynchon, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick
My blog: http://www.roscoewrites.blogspot.com/
Borstalboy
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/9/04
#11re: Viridiana
Posted: 4/1/09 at 12:17pmLOOVE VIRIDIANA!
"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”
~ Muhammad Ali
#12re: Viridiana
Posted: 4/1/09 at 1:33pm
Have you guys seen TRISTIANA? almost same as Viridiana with Catherine Deneuve... same theme- innocent girl adapted by an old man then marries old man..almost that same theme in his movie.. inocent/religious people getting 'molested'..kills husband later by leaving the window open to her sick husband to freeze to death...that macabre theme. he also has a lot of 'surreal images' in the movie (like Viridiania- the "last supper")
Love that movie too! I cant remember if there's a character here named 'Saturnina" or in Virdiana?? or that's another spanish movie?
J*
Updated On: 4/1/09 at 01:33 PM
#13re: Viridiana
Posted: 4/1/09 at 1:57pmI haven't seen Tristiana yet, but I'll put it on my list. Have you seen Belle de Jour, Jay? It's another Bunuel/Deneuve outing that's really great. Deneuve looks stunningly beautiful, and this creates a great juxtaposition with the ugliness of her character. The opening few minutes of Belle de Jour are wonderful and really rope you in, even if other parts of the film come off as a little "commercial."
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
#14re: Viridiana
Posted: 4/1/09 at 2:04pm
No. I have not. Thanks I will add it to my movie queue. I just saw 2 Manuel Buneul's movies for our Spanish Cinema Class. There's a lot of movies we saw- I'll think about it. Mostly from Great Spanish Directors.
That Saturnina character is from another spanish movie- cant remember it, but about the Spanish Civil War..a story about a mother who controls all her sons. Very surrel movie too and very disturbing.
J*
Updated On: 4/1/09 at 02:04 PM
#15re: Viridiana
Posted: 4/1/09 at 2:04pm
Ok, I have to ask all Bunuel fans:
What are your thoughts on Un Chien Andalou?
The infamous eyeball scene is just too much for me. And for those who don't know I am the ultimate gore hound.
....but the world goes 'round
#16re: Viridiana
Posted: 4/1/09 at 2:06pm
Where Can I get a copy of Un Chien Andalou? been looking for a long time...on DVD?
that's a silent movie, isn't it?
J*
#17re: Viridiana
Posted: 4/1/09 at 2:07pm
yes, it's silent and available on amazon for $15.00.
It's a collaboration with Salvador DaliÂ
....but the world goes 'round
Updated On: 4/1/09 at 02:07 PM
#18re: Viridiana
Posted: 4/1/09 at 2:20pm
Thank you!
Those who like Manuel Bunuel. You may wanna try these directors movies:
Segundo de Chomón, Florián Rey, Luis García Berlanga, Juan Antonio Bardem, Carlos Saura, Julio Médem and Alejandro Amenábar.
Carlos Saura did AY CARMELA- and that's one of my favorite spanish movies!
J*
#19re: Viridiana
Posted: 4/1/09 at 7:19pmUn Chien Andalou and Land Without Bread were my very first Bunuel films. I loved Un Chien Andalou so much because of how surreal it was. It is disturbing but very fascinating to watch! Land Without Bread was an amazing experience to watch. Though my favorite film of Buneul's is The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeois. Also I am partial to The Phantom of Liberty (I love his style and storytelling in that film).
"Love the Art in Yourself. Not Yourself in the Art." -- Stanislavski
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