Summary
When Viridiana, a nun on the verge of taking her final vows, is sent home to visit a widowed uncle, he falls in love with her and schemes how he might win her affections. Or force them if need be.
My Viewing
Luis Bunuel is one fo the few Spanish directors whose work I was already slightly familiar with going into this Spain series. His sense of humor is a little different but there is something undeniably compelling about the way he approaches a film.
I loved “Simon of the Desert” when I saw it. Though he never finished it, I felt like it worked better almost than if it was a much longer film.
Hearing that “Viridiana” was a similarly themed movie, I actually sought it out pretty deliberately to make sure it found its way into my collection of movies I review.
My Thoughts
The film does indeed tread a similar thematic path to “Simon of the Desert.” In it a woman of virtue is tempted and works for the benefit of those around her in a way that seems to be redeeming for them, for a time.
Eventually, however, the callous and selfish nature of humanity which has not been eradicated, merely placated, reappears and all seems to have been in vain.
I’ll admit this movie isn’t my favorite but I did really enjoy the continuation of certain themes within Bunuel’s oeuvre as I was able to see growth, frustration, and a more complete vision of what he feels.
For me, however, that is its main value. I don’t know that I would have liked this film very much without seeing others of his films.
It isn’t as funny as his others which I have seen and it leaves the viewer, as in his other works, alone and wondering what the point of it all was. I know that is the feeling he is going for and he achieves it like a master but it certainly doesn’t make it a film which I look forward to viewing again and again.
Review Written By: