1965 - SIMON OF THE DESERT the meek will not inherit the earth

A holy man stands on a column for 6 years, 6 months and 6 days. As a reward for being so holy he gets a higher column.

 This is Luis Bunuel's  funny film about a very pious but extremely judgmental and very ridiculous holy man. Simon stands on his column, prays and fasts and  has not a word to say to anyone, unless it's to criticize their lack of spiritually. His followers mostly take it in stride but at times even the Brothers at the local monastery seem to find him tiresome. Finally, as a corrective, the Devil shows up to tempt him off his path of self righteousness.

This is almost a perfect film. My only criticism would be the ending of the film, where I think Bunuel didn't really know how to wrap it all up.  This film is amazingly based on the life of a holy man named Simeon Stylites who actually lived on a pillar for over 39 years.

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Silvia Pinal enjoys herself way too much as the Devil.

45 enjoyably blasphemous minutes.

1962 - Bunuel's THE EXTERMINATING ANGEL and don't ask me to explain it

Don't ask me to explain it. Luis Bunuel surrealist filmmaker filmed this little "love letter" to the upper classes in 1961. I would bet that Rod Serling watched it a couple of hundred times since it has a real Twilight Zone buzz to it.

 

A group of dinner companions find themselves for some reason trapped in a room in an upper class house. Unable to leave, they slowly turn on each other as their less then best behaviors start to creep out.

 

 Bunuel was such a talented filmmaker that he was able to keep this potentially "johnny one note" idea constantly interesting and more importantly entertaining. He was also smart enough to know when to add his famous surrealist touches and when to keep the story moving.

 

Luis Bunuel had lots of highs and lows in his career. He had to walk the fine line between commercial responsibility and artistic integrity. He was also smart enough not to bore his audience.

Wish I could understand it all but I sure loved that bear wandering around the house.

 95 minutes.