Here is one of the ultimate tales in Christian parody-parables: Luis Bunuel, who partially made a career out of ridiculing (though in good dramatic/comedic measure) the church, made this film about a man (Simon of the title) who stands a-top a column to get closer to God. He gains the total attention and praise (and prayer) of the locals, who visit him daily. But a problem confronts him in the form of Satan, or rather a sultry seductress, bringing him temptations galore. When she finally brings her torment upon him to the ultimate, it takes him to the most unusual of places (in particular unusual for a Bunuel film, who mostly has his films of this period set in the early 20th or 19th century).
This is indeed one of the director's most carefully controlled and sometimes cringe-inducing black comedies, one that starts off so dramatically and sincerely I thought I was watching a different Bunuel- it's at first reverent and thoughtful, and if I was a Christian I would've been very moved. But as the story then progressed I noticed the utter absurdity of it all- in a way this is like a long Monty Python sketch only done with a boat-load more of subtlety to Simon's plight. This is a man in total conflict, portrayed well by Claudio Brook, very straight-faced or trying to through it all. The Devil as well, Silvia Pinal, is excellent in eliciting these dark emotions out of Simon, who has to be literally a pillar of strength for these people.
The climax of the film, which you will know if you read the film's plot summary here, is one of the superb strokes of genius in any film from Bunuel- at first sight of what he does in his transition of the story is outrageous (in the best possible way), then when it settles into its manic drive of the sequence it's hilarious, then exhilarating, and then finally something that is underlying in many of Bunuel's films- hipness. It's a whole collision of emotions that come with this scene, and it works as a fitting end to this strange, funny allegory-cum-satire of quasi-religious figures and their worshipers. If you find this film in your video store or browsing around online, it's worth to check out for a 45 minute view into the mind of the religious side of Bunuel: wicked, knowing, and in an ironic and touching way very understanding of what these people went through in those old times and what continues today in decadence.
This is indeed one of the director's most carefully controlled and sometimes cringe-inducing black comedies, one that starts off so dramatically and sincerely I thought I was watching a different Bunuel- it's at first reverent and thoughtful, and if I was a Christian I would've been very moved. But as the story then progressed I noticed the utter absurdity of it all- in a way this is like a long Monty Python sketch only done with a boat-load more of subtlety to Simon's plight. This is a man in total conflict, portrayed well by Claudio Brook, very straight-faced or trying to through it all. The Devil as well, Silvia Pinal, is excellent in eliciting these dark emotions out of Simon, who has to be literally a pillar of strength for these people.
The climax of the film, which you will know if you read the film's plot summary here, is one of the superb strokes of genius in any film from Bunuel- at first sight of what he does in his transition of the story is outrageous (in the best possible way), then when it settles into its manic drive of the sequence it's hilarious, then exhilarating, and then finally something that is underlying in many of Bunuel's films- hipness. It's a whole collision of emotions that come with this scene, and it works as a fitting end to this strange, funny allegory-cum-satire of quasi-religious figures and their worshipers. If you find this film in your video store or browsing around online, it's worth to check out for a 45 minute view into the mind of the religious side of Bunuel: wicked, knowing, and in an ironic and touching way very understanding of what these people went through in those old times and what continues today in decadence.