Viridiana (1961)
Genre: Drama
Duration: 90 minuten
Country:
Spain / Mexico
Directed by: Luis Buñuel
Stars: Fernando Rey, Silvia Pinal and Francisco Rabal
IMDb score:
8,0 (28.156)
Releasedate: 17 May 1961
Viridiana plot
"We've got nothing to hide..."
Viridiana is a young nun who, despite being exposed to the evils of the outside world in the form of her evil uncle, decides to show her true Christian mercy by opening her home to the local cripples and beggars. However, they do not correspond to the dignity she expects.
Actors and actresses
Viridiana
Jorge
Don Jaime
Don Amalio
Ramona
Lucía
Rita
El Poca
Don Zequiel
El Cojo
Reviews & comments
Onderhond
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- 87655 messages
- 12963 votes
The test of faith part 2.
By coincidence, today I also watched Silence, Scorsese's youngest member. In terms of theme, it shows some similarities with this film, including believers whose faith is severely tested outside their protected environment.
In terms of experience, I can agree quite well with eRCee, during the film I also regularly wondered what the idea behind the plot was and where it was actually going. The slowness of the ongoing story in particular did the film little good in that respect.
In the second half it becomes a bit clearer where Buñuel wants to go, although I still have my doubts whether this form was the most suitable for that. Reading the topic I see a lot of interpretations that could fit in well, the only problem is that all the symbolism seems to lead mainly to messages that I either have to dismiss as nonsense or find too banal to take seriously.
The fact that the strict rules of religion are not very realistic in a society (not even a modern one) is an example of banality, the eternal criticism of deteriorating societies is a clear example of nonsense (and laziness). Buñuel does not seem capable of any nuance and as a film itself it is also rather average. And if as a director you have to use a card game as a symbol for sex, then I doubt whether imagery such as "elephant in a china shop" is appropriate.
Visually it is boring and unremarkable, the music consists mainly of bad recordings of well-known classical songs. The scene with "the last supper" could have been fun(er) if Greenaway had not later built a film with a similar design that is much better and if the acting also feels amateurish, then it is better to leave little. Except for a running time that remains well within 90 minutes.
1.0*
Translated from Dutch · View original
De filosoof
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- 2519 messages
- 1725 votes
The film stuns from start to finish, has drama and tension in a wonderfully dark, somewhat Gothic atmosphere and is chock full of symbolism, meaning content that goes far beyond the visual: this is cinema at its best!
Everything in the film seems to have meaning, but I think the most important is that the characters represent a position or class: the uncle represents the aristocracy (who lives isolated from society, is in decline and dying - he likes to put Mozart's Requiem on – and desperately tries to get the church on its side for vitalization), his son for the bourgeoisie (who is vigorous and materialistic and takes possession of everything), the servant for the worker who has developed and Viridiana for the clergy (who renounces the worldly – the name Virdiana stands for purity – and wants to live according to God's commandment of charity). The somewhat strange ending not only refers to a sexual menage-a-trois but also to an ideal and/or modern society in which the bourgeoisie, clergy and workers live together on equal terms and share power. In addition, Virdiana, i.e. the clergy, is also naive in its charity (where Viridiana recognizes herself in the daughter who only wants to play and balances on the border of sexual discovery): just like the son who frees the dog, she frees vagrants and other scum of the earth, but they remain antisocial so that they only fall into orgy and crime if they are no longer oppressed. There is a political message in this: liberation of the proletariat is not enough: one must also be able to develop for which discipline is required.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Fisico
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- 10039 messages
- 5398 votes
Bunuel does not hesitate to kick ass and even provoke in his films. I thought it was a rather strange film that can be divided into two main parts. You have the part with the aristocratic gentleman Jaime who wants to marry his niece and do everything he can to keep her with him. I have no idea what to think of that man. He sounded very bitter, desperate and lonely to me.
Viridiana is mainly very naive and gullible. Merciful in heart and soul and that does not necessarily lead to gratitude. Not from the staff or the son who would rather be rid of the poor and beggars than rich. But also not from the poor themselves. There too, there is a question of social class when the alleged leprosy patient is thrown out and even bullied. They have no decency or respect either, their tongue in cheek is snide and brutal. And when the cat is away, the mice dance.
Provocative, too, with that tableau of the Last Supper. So typical Bunuel. Enjoyed it, but not necessarily great. Good to have seen.
Translated from Dutch · View originalLatest News
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