Rent That Obscure Object of Desire (1977)

Life and Death of an Old Frenchman and a Youngt Trollop - That Obscure Object of Desire review by Cato

A clever film on an old subject wherein a rich man getting on in life falls for a young woman at a train station who in turn leads him a merry dance as he tries to pull her. And that's it really, except that this happens in the 70s and bombs are being set alight in Paris by nasty people (so watch out Mathieu). It's a film with a difference, in that the old man relates all of his story to a train carriage full of very interested people (including some young girls, whom I'm sure wouldn't have been allowed to listen to all the details by their mother). Well, maybe in France perhaps. I must admit that I'd not noticed that there were two actresses playing the part of the naughty girl who tempts the old Parisian. Why, I don't know, but it was a creative masterpiece, as they say.

Kafka with Kink (and Castanets) - That Obscure Object of Desire review by griggs

Bunuel’s final film is pure provocation—a deadpan comedy of erotic frustration where logic takes a holiday, and desire ties itself in Freudian knots. The dual-actress trick is genius: two Conchitas, one obsession, zero resolution. It’s a surreal masterstroke that turns male fantasy into farce and keeps you guessing who’s seducing whom.

Fernando Rey bumbles through like a horny traffic warden with a martyr complex, falling head over pedantic heels for Conchita (both of them), who may or may not be a sex-positive anarchist troll. Every time he gets close—the door slams, the curtain drops, and the train leaves. It’s not so much cat-and-mouse as Kafka with kink.

Terrorists loom, passions smoulder, and the patriarchy gets punked in lace and flamenco. It’s maddening, yes—but gloriously so. A farewell from a filmmaker who never stopped playing with matches, even as the world burned.

Ageless film - That Obscure Object of Desire review by CSF

I dare not to criticize Bunnuel. He is one of the cinema genius and has an incredible knowledge of the human's dark corners. I saw all his films in France, when I was 18 because he was a 'must' in France. It took me 20 years to understand and appreciate them. It was a big shock in film making. That's what I call breaking ground. It took me even longer to understand Belle de Jour but I've never forgotten it.

I was a little disturbed to watch 2 different actresses for the same part. I can't make up my mind whether it was an excellent idea to show the two sides of the woman or it was not necessary and rather artificial.

My favourite film is The Discreet Charm of the Bourgoisy. So clever!