That Obscure Object of Desire

THAT OBSCURE OBJECT OF DESIRE (CET OBSCUR OBJECT DU DESIR) (15)

D: Luis Bunuel

Greenwich/Galaxie/Inine (Serge Silberman)

Spain/France 1977

100 mins

Drama/Comedy/Romance

W: Luis Bunuel & Jean-Claude Carriere [based on the novel "La Femme et la Pantin" by Pierre Louys]

DP: Edmond Richard

Ed: Helene Pieniannikov

PD: Pierre Guffroy

Fernando Rey (Mathieu), Carole Bouquet / Angela Molina (Conchita)

Luis Bunuel's final film is a surrealist view at a poisonous romance.

On a train from Seville to Paris, a middle-aged man recounts to his fellow passengers of his doomed love affair with Conchita, a beautiful young woman who constantly manipulates, deceives and torments him, leading him on for the thrill of the chase then rebuffing his advances when he does get a chance to bed her.

It's a stroke of genius from the director to use two different actresses for the part of the alluring femme fatale; the demure, seductive and innocent Carole Bouquet when the script calls for the character to be attractive and the cattish, fiery Angela Molina when the script calls for her to be spiteful.

It's all about the duality of the female psyche, and though it can often seem a bit misogynistic, it's also a clever portrayal of a desperate man always wanting what he can never quite get.

8/10