La Voie lactée (The Milky Way) (1969)

93% of critics liked it
(14 reviews)
85% of users liked it
(2,174 ratings)

While arch surrealist Luis Bunuel never made a secret of his skepticism about the existence of God, he was also raised as a strict Spanish Catholic and remained fascinated with the church's teaching throughout his life, and his obsessions with both faith and the contradictions of dogma provided the… More While arch surrealist Luis Bunuel never made a secret of his skepticism about the existence of God, he was also raised as a strict Spanish Catholic and remained fascinated with the church's teaching throughout his life, and his obsessions with both faith and the contradictions of dogma provided the basis for this episodic satiric comedy. Jean (Laurent Terzieff) and Pierre (Paul Frankeur) are two threadbare vagabonds who are making their way from Paris to Spain on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, where the remains of Saint James are believed to be kept. While Jean and Pierre's journey begins in the 20th Century, as they travel they seemingly develop the ability to move through time and space as they pass through a variety of historical scenes taken from a broad range of theological texts -- and all involving heresy in one form or another. As they walk the long road to Santiago de Compostela (when they can't catch a ride), Jean and Pierre encounter Jesus (Bernard Verley), who decides not to shave his beard to keep his mother happy; a young boy with stigmata and unusual powers; the Marquis de Sade (Michel Piccoli), who patently struggles to teach atheism to a young girl he's captured; an eccentric priest who has an irreversible belief in transubstantiation until he changes his mind; two men who put their debate over Catholic dogma to the test in a duel with swords; and Satan (Pierre Clementi), who shows up just in time for a car wreck. La Voie Lactee (aka The Milky Way) was scripted by Bunuel and his frequent screenwriting collaborator Jean-Claude Carriere; each of the film's historic episodes was adapted faithfully from an actual biblical text or historical account. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 42 min.
Directed By: Luis Buñuel
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Mar 15, 1969 Wide
On DVD: Aug 28, 2007
Studio: Media Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Vincent Canby, New York Times
Everything is photographed straightforwardly, in cheerful but not bilious color, and seen with documentary-like clarity.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
A bit of a poor relation among the magnificent films of Buñuel's late period, but rarely shown and well worth seeing.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Has some laughs mostly at the expense of Catholic dogma.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
You can feel the master laughing heartily at his own hijinks, and that takes away all pretension and makes the film interesting.
Felix Gonzalez Jr., DVD Review
[F]or fans of absurdist or abstract filmmaking, the film can be a rewarding and even hilarious experience.
Felix Gonzalez Jr., DVD Review
Though not unanimously considered one of the director's greatest works, The Milky Way may be one of his most poignant explorations of true spirituality ...
Sean Axmaker, MSN.com
The first film in... a trilogy of comically surreal satires is a cheeky return to some of his favorite themes -- religion and hypocrisy...
Chris Cabin, Filmcritic.com
describing it somewhat in the vein of teaching a humpback whale how to solve a Rubik's cube
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine
Not everyone's cup of tea, The Milky Way is paved with heretical intentions.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
This comical film will make any viewer question his beliefs -- from religious fanatic to rabid atheist.
Alan Dale, Blogcritics.org
I doubt such an unrelenting challenge to the Christian faith, in both its substance and its expression, has ever been made in a more easygoing fashion.
Doug Cummings, Filmjourney
More witty than Dogma and more aesthetically refined than the original Bedazzled, the film is affectionately irreverent and adventurous storytelling.
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine
Though highly regarded in some circles, The Milky Way may be the worst film Buñuel ever made; at the very least, it may be his most jaded and inhuman.
Michael W. Phillips, Jr., Goatdog's Movies
Most people will dislike this movie, or at least be bored to tears by it. I enjoyed it.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Think of it as Bing Crosby and Bob Hope in The Road to Heresy and you're close to the spirit of the whole thing.

Read all 15 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Greg S

Two down and out men travel from France to Spain for a pilgrimage, along the way meeting various absurd characters who illustrate historical Christian heresies. A remarkable Surrealist assault on religious dogmatism and hypocrisy, often using the Church's own texts against them,… More
Two down and out men travel from France to Spain for a pilgrimage, along the way meeting various absurd characters who illustrate historical Christian heresies. A remarkable Surrealist assault on religious dogmatism and hypocrisy, often using the Church's own texts against them, but it's so academic that it sometimes feels like it's all from the head, with no heart involved at all.
Bruce B

This one made little sense to me, Had hard time telling where I was in the film or if I was even watching the same movie at times.

Cast

            Laurent Terzieff as Jean

            Paul Frankeur as Pierre

            Alain Cuny as Man with Cape

            Delphine Seyrig as Prostitute

            Edith Scob as Virgin

            Bernard Verley as Jesus

            Georges Marchal as Jesuit

            Jean Piat as The Jansenist

            Jean-Claude Carriere as Priscillian

            Michel Piccoli as Marquis

            Julien Bertheau as Maitre d'Hotel

            Claudio Brook as Bishop

            Christine Simon as Therese

            Claude Cerval as Brigadier

            Jean Clarieux as Apostle Peter

            Pierre Clémenti as The Devil

            Michel Creton
            
            Raoul Delfosse
            
            Georges Douking as Shepherd

            Michel Etcheverry as The Inquisitor

            Julien Guiomar as Spanish priest

            Marius Laurey as Blind Man

            Pierre Maguelon as Civil Guard Corporal

            Rita Maiden
            
            Francois Maistre as French Priest

            Muni as Mother Superior

            Bernard Musson as French Innkeeper

            Paul Pavel
            
            Daniel Pilon as Francois

            Marcel Peres as The Posadero

            Jacqueline Rouillard as Restaurant Maid

            Douglas Read
            
            Jacques Rispal
            
            Christian Van Cau as Apostle Andrew

            Stephane Bouy
            
            Claudine Berg as Mother

            Gabriel Gobin as Father

            Ellen Bahl as Mme. Garnier

            Michel Dacquin as M. Garnier

            Pascal Fardoulis
            
            Pierre Lary as Young monk
See full cast