Review of That Obscure Object of Desire (1977) by Al M — 20 May 2009
That Obscure Object of Desire is much less subtle in its surrealism than Bunuel's earlier works, yet by having two actresses playing the same character (sometimes within the same scene) and by creating an absurdist situation worthy of Kafka or Beckett, Bunuel creates one more final surrealistic masterpiece in which he explores the nature of desire, objectification, love, and sexuality.
Almost feminist in its indictment of masculine ideals of "possession," Bunuel depicts a man who continues to chase a woman who refuses to have sex with him because he can never understand her and cease to treat her as an object.
However, parallel to this feminist angle, the film also functions a brilliant example of the psychoanalytical concept of lack, which functions as the basis of all desire. The lack, and consequently desire, can never be fulfilled, and hence we are always doomed to chase it just as Mateo is doomed to eternally chase Conchita in a sort of Sisyphean dance of courtship.
And as always with Bunuel, the film mixes humor, philosophy, and drama together into a heady yet continually engaging mixture.
This review of That Obscure Object of Desire (1977) was written by Al M on 20 May 2009.
That Obscure Object of Desire has generally received very positive reviews.
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