That Obscure Object of Desire (1977)

Synopsis of That Obscure Object of Desire

Adapted from Pierre Louys' 1898 novel La Femme et le Pantin, That Obscure Object of Desire is the 30th and final film from the great Luis Buñuel. Recounted in flashback to a group of railway travellers, the story wryly details the romantic perils of Mathieu (Buñuel favorite Fernando Rey), a wealthy, middle-aged French sophisticate who falls desperately in love with his 19-year-old former chambermaid Conchita. Thus begins a surreal game of sexual cat-and-mouse, with Mathieu obsessively attempting to win the girl's affections as she manipulates his carnal desires, each vying to gain absolute control of the other. Brimming with the subversive wit which characterizes all of Buñuel's finest work, That Obscure Object of Desire takes satiric aim at a decadent, decaying society riddled by political unrest and moral bankruptcy. The picture is absurdist even in its casting -- Rey's dialogue was dubbed by the French actor Michel Piccoli, while the two-faced, hot-and-cold Conchita is played, logically enough, by two different actresses (Carole Bouquet and Angela Molina, respectively), with the character's dialogue spoken by yet a third performer. The same Louys novel was also filmed by Josef von Sternberg in 1935 as the Marlene Dietrich vehicle The Devil Is a Woman, and again in 1959 as Julien Duvivier's La Femme et le Pantin, starring Brigitte Bardot. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi

Theatrical Feature Running Time:

104 mins

Director(s):

Luis Buñuel

Writer(s):

Luis Buñuel, Jean-Claude Carrière

Producer(s):

Serge Silberman

Theatrical MPAA Rating:

R(Adult Situations, Not For Children, Adult Language, Nudity, Violence, Profanity)

Categories:

Comedy

• 1977 - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Foreign Film
• 1977 - National Board of Review - Best Director
• 1977 - National Board of Review - Best Foreign Film
• 1977 - National Society of Film Critics - Best Picture

Warning:  This product is intended for mature audiences only. It may contain violence, sexual content, drug abuse and/or strong language. You must be 17 or older to purchase it. By ordering this item you are certifying that you are at least 17 years of age.

Looking for special editions of That Obscure Object of Desire?

See All Versions

Subtitles:

Check All Versions

Closed Captioning:

Check All Versions