Fernando Rey, Carole Bouquet, Ángela Molina

As terrorists bomb Seville, worldly Fernando Rey boards the Paris train, promptly dumping a bucket of water on a young woman trying to board. As his fellow passengers look on aghast, Rey proceeds to e...( read more  read more... )xplain why this young woman is the worst of all women because she will never allow him to consumate his passion.

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90% liked it

1,522 ratings

Critics

100% liked it

25 critics

R, 1 hr. 43 min.

Directed by: Luis Buńuel

Release Date: August 17, 1977

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DVD Release Date: November 20, 2001

Stats: 293 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (293)


  • July 5, 2009
    My first and favorite Bunuel, with Fernando Rey playing dangerously with fire of his own making.
  • May 6, 2009
    "That Obscure Object of Desire" tells the tale of a middle-aged French businessman, Mathieu (Fernando Rey). His life seems to be in order until one day meets a beautiful young maid, Conchita (Carole Bouquet and Angela Molina). Bunuel cast two women to play the same role in order ...( read more)to accent Conchita as the shapeshifter she is - the film concerns her teasing and tormenting Mathieu, and her mysterious inaccessibility is perfectly highlighted with two actresses. Although the women don't share much of a resemblance, Mathieu never notices and, after the initial shock, neither do we. For whatever reason, we think it's perfectly acceptable for this character, Conchita, to change appearances.

    The framing device of the film, largely told in flashback, is Mathieu fleeing to Paris aboard a train. He vents his relationship woes with fellow passengers, including a dwarf psychologist. Before we know of Conchita, we see that she boards the train. Then, for the next hour or two, we're trying to figure out why he's calling her the miserable she-devil that he's convinced she is. On the surface she seems like an innocent but prude lover, however things drastically change when Mathieu sees her at a strip club, or, more appallingly, making love with a younger man. What's impressive about the film is how much we care for Mathieu. There's not a whole lot of films where we cheer for the man trying to bed an unwilling companion.

    Besides the diversions of the train sequence, moments of terrorism are also placed throughout the film. From the little we gather from small conversations and radio broadcasts, we know that a guerrilla group known as the Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus has attempted the assassination of a bishop. It's unclear whether or not Bunuel is attempting a political message, however the senseless violence is a perfect companion to the games the lovers play in the film. How often do you see directors use terrorism as a device of symbolic significance rather than a plot device in a thriller?

    The film, in comparison to others by Bunuel like "The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie", is fairly straight-forward in it's narrative. Although it can be quite obscure and surreal, it's largely easy to follow and an enjoyable, if maddening, ride. Fernando Rey, who seems to fill the role of Bunuel's alterego, is charming enough to root for yet absurd enough to not find completely endearing. Bouquet and Molina are also unforgettable, and Conchita's transformation is one of the most frustrating, appalling, and cerebral of all character evolutions. I'm not one to condone violence to women, or anyone for that matter - but when Mathieu smacks Conchita, I could imagine audiences worldwide thundering in applause.

    "That Obscure Object of Desire" tells a simple story, but it always manages to be completely unpredictable, convincing, and tremendously engaging. It's the work of a master filmmaker, and it should be viewed as a sort of masterpiece in it's own right. A wonderful movie!
  • March 25, 2008
    Luis Buńuel's swan song is as delightful, vigorous, loudly cynic, rich and subversive as his other grand works. Fernando Rey, Carole Bouquet and Angela Molina are simply wonderful. masterpiece of imagery and eroticism.
  • September 9, 2006
    This is such a great film, it has so much depth. You'll end up loving and hating them both, perhaps they deserve each other? Wonderful ending, i'm glad someone's actually put that in a film. Fernando Rey serves Bunuel perfectly again
  • October 4, 2009
    The last masterpiece by Luis Bunuel, which deals with the process of loss of human dignity, timeless passion and regret, and of course, desire. The direction is spectacular and the acting by Fernando Rey is absolutely gorgeous. The film is a must see and a wonderful work of art, ...( read more)depressing, shocking and ultimately devastating. A rare gem ahead of its time.

    91/100
  • October 1, 2009
    Hard to tell if I liked it or not. Ah, the roar of laughter in the movie theatre...
  • November 26, 2008
    want to see this because it won best foreign film with the NBR, best foreign-language film with the LAFC, and was nominated for best foreign film at the golden globes and oscars
  • November 22, 2008
    tek rolü iki oyuncunun oynamas? kafam? kar??t?rm??t? küçükken. akl?n?z ba??n?zdayken izleyin.
  • October 27, 2008
    Luis Bunuel is such a legend. It takes courage to have 2 actresses playing the same role, but the purpose is to show the true nature, to reveal the 2 sides of Conchita with extreme different qualities, it's for the sake of the film. Great performances and great writing. The diffe...( read more)rences between female and male's view on the power of sex and its frustration and obsession were all shown by Bunuel without ruining them with much explicit sex scenes.
  • October 8, 2008
    speaking as a man: men are fucking stupid.

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