Viridiana

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?

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I 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!

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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.

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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.

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I wish Criterion would do a release of LAND WITHOUT BREAD.

Ah, well. Maybe after CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON.

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LAND 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!

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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

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

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*

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*