Viridiana (1961) is the brilliant transitional film that came between Luis Bunuel's Mexican period and his later European masterpieces. The film introduces a theme that would haunt Bunuel's later films: the abject desire of an older man (Don Jaime, played by Fernando Rey) for a young, pure, beautiful woman (Viridiana, played by Silvia Pinal). In elaborating his theme Bunuel expounds on all his signature concerns: his abhorrence of Catholicism, his complicated delight in lechery and perversity, and his fierce satirical idealism. For Gary Indiana, Bunuel is the greatest of all film directors. Indiana analyzes all the component elements of Viridiana as well as its moments of special intensity. But each discussion of a shot, an actor, a symbol, or a dramatic effect leads to further analysis of some wider aspect of Bunuel's filmmaking. Dissecting and elucidating Viridiana as he goes, Indiana also moves backward and forward through this maverick director's career to create portraits both of a pivotal film and one of the foremost twentieth-century artists.
- ISBN10 184457041X
- ISBN13 9781844570416
- Publish Date 10 November 2004
- Publish Status Cancelled
- Out of Print 2 March 2010
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
- Imprint BFI Publishing
- Format Paperback (US Trade)
- Pages 96
- Language English