A Long Walk Up a Short Razor Blade With Mayo
Pros:Madness, Surrealism, Dinner Parties, and Bullets
Cons:Potato's are square pigs in round hovels
The Bottom Line: Bunuel is the master of surrealism and this is his finest work
Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.
Spanish director Luis Bunel (Un Chien Andalou, The Exterminating Angel, Tristana) was known for two things: Martini's and Surrealism. His first film, Un Chien Andalou (An Andalusian Dog) was a masterwork of surreal images and time disjointed. He created it in union with Salvador Dali.
As Bunuel's career grew so did his talent. Eventually he would be able to create a true narrative tale, while still creating his wonderful images and circumstances. And, sometimes he was able to include a political message as well.
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie is perhaps the best example of Bunuel at the height of his powers. It is truly a work of genius.
The plot concerns a group of upperclass French citizens and a diplomat from a South American country called "Miranda". Over the course of several days they attempt to stage voluptuous dinner parties, only to be thwarted by strange happenings.
Their Epicurean delights are interuppted by soldiers, police, terrorists, ghosts, dreams of ghosts, affairs of the heart (or libido), arguments, misunderstandings, and a Bishop who longs to be a gardener because "the church has changed".
The cast is led by the wonderful Fernando Rey (Reina santa, My General) as the ambassador from Miranda. He is involved in cocaine smuggling with one friend, and carrying on an illicit affair with the wife of another. All the while he is pursued by a beautiful young terrorist who seeks to assasinate him.
Bunuel was able to make many statements about Upper class society, the depravity and boredom of the wealthy, the ineffective nature of the church, and the brutality of life in general; all couched within this very funny, and at times unsettling framework.
Some have suggested that the plot exist as a frame to hang dream images. I believe Bunuel uses these dream images to layer depth of meaning and allusion. Few films are as openly subversive as this, and those that are are rarely truly entertaining.
Bunuel was one of the greatest directors in the history of film and this movie is a fine place to begin a discovery of his work
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