That Obscure Object of Desire

That Obscure Object of Desire (French: Cet obscur objet du désir; Spanish: Ese oscuro objeto del deseo) is a 1977 film directed by the auteur Luis Buñuel. Written by Buñuel himself with long-time collaborator Jean-Claude Carrière, it was based on a French book by Pierre Louys entitled La femme et le pantin, although liberties were taken with many aspects of the source material for the screenplay. Veteran Spanish actor Fernando Rey (who appeared as the drug lord in The French Connection and frequently worked with Buñuel in his later years) plays Mathieu, his voice dubbed by Michel Piccoli, with the female lead played by two different women, Carole Bouquet and Ángela Molina (with their voices done by a third on the English-dubbed version). Carole Bouquet is sometimes reported to have walked out on the production; in other accounts Buñuel is said to have simply replaced her in the middle of the production because she would not take his direction.

Related Topics:
1977 - Film - Auteur - Luis Buñuel - Jean-Claude Carrière - Pierre Louys - Fernando Rey - Carole Bouquet - Ángela Molina

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The use of two actors in the role of Conchita is a notable part of the movie. Many film critics believed this to be an intentional decision on the part of Buñuel based on his long-standing surrealist sensibilities, mistakenly arguing that the odd use of casting highlighted the mercurial aspect of the character. The actors sometimes shared single scenes (for instance, Molina walking behind a curtain and Bouquet emerging a second later).

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Originally the character of Conchita was only to be played by Maria Schneider, from Last Tango in Paris, but she objected to the nude scenes she'd have had to do in this picture (despite having done a dozen sex scenes earlier in her career).

Related Topics:
Maria Schneider - Last Tango in Paris - Nude

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An unrequited spring-autumn courtship takes place in Spain and France amid a backdrop of terrorist insurgency.

Related Topics:
Spain - France - Terrorist

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The movie begins with Mathieu (Aldo Rey) chartering a train from Seville to Paris; he is moving to escape a woman whose belongings – which include a pillow bloodied by a nosebleed and soiled panties – he destroys. A wealthy man is assassinated by a car bomb. As Mathieu's train is ready to depart he finds that he is being pursued by a bruised and bandaged woman (Conchita). From the train he pours a bucket of water over her head. He believes this deters her, but she sneaks aboard the train. The abusive act is witnessed by his fellow coach-cabin passengers who include a neighbor from Paris, an associate, and a psychologist (played by Pierre Piéral). They inquire about his motivation for such an act and he then explains the history of his relationship with Conchita, depicted in flashbacks. Conchita vowed to remain a virgin until marriage, yet she tantalized him with sexual promises, but never allowed Mathieu to satify his lust for her. Eventually, we learn, she dances nude for tourists, and appears to have sex with a random young man in full view of Mathieu. She explains that this sex was "pretend" -- intended to demonstrate her independence from Mathieu's financial support. Matthieu then beats her, which explains her bandaged and bruised state earlier in the film (as well as the bloody pillow).

Related Topics:
Seville - Paris - Pierre Piéral

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The fellow train passengers are satisfied with this story as the explaination of violence by Mathieu. Conchita reappears from hiding on the train and dumps a bucket of water on Mathieu. After the train deboards the couple is seen walking together, arm-in-arm, enjoying themselves on the streets of Paris.

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A public announcement is broadcast alerting of a "strange alliance of extreme leftist groups, including the P.O.P., the P.R.I.Q.U.E. and the R.U.T. with the... Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus... to sow a state of confusion in society." The announcement continues to explain that several right-wing groups intend to counterattack in this uprising. As the couple continues their walk they first see a seamstress in a shop window mending a bloody veil. They then appear to be having trouble once again. Suddenly they, apparently, become victims of a terrorist's bomb.

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Shocking to viewers worldwide in 1977, it was not financially successful; however, it became a critical favorite, garnering Best Foreign Language Film nominations at both the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards (where it was also nominated for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium) but failing to win at both. The critics associations were slightly more generous with the National Board of Review, and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association both awards it Best Foreign Language Film awards in 1977. Luis Buñuel won Best Director at the National Bord of Review and National Society of Film Critics Awards. Buñuel was also nominated at the French Césars.

Related Topics:
Golden Globe - Academy Award - Césars

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