145 - That Obscure Object of Desire, 1977, France/Spain. Dir. Luis Bunuel.

Thursday, May 25, 2017

145 - That Obscure Object of Desire, 1977, France/Spain. Dir. Luis Bunuel.

A car bomb.

Terrorism is on the rise.

The terrorists are everywhere.

They do not do it for money.

They do it because they believe in it.  They love it.  They want the danger.  The adventure.  The risk.

They are willing to die.

Soon we will be reading about it on the Sports page.

So says Mathieu's friend at dinner.

They see bombs explode so often these days that it has become a commonplace.

A car will blow up in front of them as they are driving.  They simply turn around and take another route.

This is in 1977.  In France.  And in Spain.

Mathieu is rich.

His butler has recently hired a new chambermaid.

From Seville.  In Spain.  We are in Paris.

She is not very good at chambermaiding.

But she sure can turn Mathieu's head.

He shows her some affection.

The next morning she is gone.

He will run into her again later.  While she has another job.

He will pursue her again.

And the two will go around and around and around.

As he pursues her.  And she promises her heart to him.  And questions his heart for her.  And denies him pleasure.  And keeps him wanting.

This film is not a film noir.

But it may have more of a femme fatale than any film noir you have ever seen.

Apparently the secret to owning someone is to promise him what he wants, make him want it very badly, come so close to giving it to him, and then never give it to him.

And pull that carrot-and-stick in front of him for life.

Poor Mathieu.

Will he ever learn?

Fernando Rey plays Mathieu.

Fernando Rey has played in several Bunuel movies.

It is so great when an actor and director keep working together year after year.  They know each other's personalities, tendencies, and preferences.  They understand one another.  They communicate in a kind of shorthand.  They are on the same page.

We have seen only a couple of Bunuel-Rey collaborations, but they have been good.

Meanwhile, Conchita is played by . . . well, it would be a great experience for you if you could watch this movie without knowing ahead of time.

Try not to look it up.

It is a delightful surprise.

And one worthy of a surrealist.

With this movie Bunuel brings together a lifetime of filmmaking.

It is solidly of its time.  And of its place.

And yet is universal.

For all times.  And all places.

Because human nature does not change.