141 - Viridiana, 1961, Spain, Mexico. Dir. Luis Bunuel.

Sunday, May 21, 2017

141 - Viridiana, 1961, Spain, Mexico. Dir. Luis Bunuel.

A young woman is about to become a nun.

But first her Mother Superior has her visit a rich widower.

He falls in love with her.

No, this is not The Sound of Music.

That film came four years later.

And had different music.

This is Viridiana.  Directed by Luis Bunuel.  The Spaniard living in Mexico.  Making a movie back home in Spain.

Hallelujah.

Hallelujah.

Hallelujah.  Hallelujah.  Hallelujah.

George Frideric Handel's great chorus plays.

The beggars will form a picture of Leonardo Da Vinci's The Last Supper.

Viridiana, the soon-to-be nun--if she can ever get there--tries to help people.

It is just that they do not seem to want her help.

When her Mother Superior has her visit Viridiana's uncle Don Jaime, he is struck by how much she looks like her aunt, his deceased wife.

He tries to get her to stay.

He resorts to tricks to try to keep her.

His tricks backfire.

And yet she stays.
                                                               
Luis Bunuel was an iconoclast.

Back when that term meant something.

He saw the world through amused lenses.

And was willing to poke fun at various institutions.

Viridiana's efforts become one of those institutions.

Viridiana's efforts do not turn out very well.

So she might as well play cards with her cousin and his mistress.