Search - That Obscure Object of Desire [Criterion Collection] on DVD

Content Advisory: Violence, Nudity, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Adult Language, Profanity Movie Release: 1977 DVD Release: 11/20/2001 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Dual Layered Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 44 mins Studio: Criterion Members Wishing: 19 Genres: Comedy, Satire, Black Comedy, Sex Comedy

Adapted from Pierre Louys' 1898 novel La Femme et le Pantin, That Obscure Object of Desire is the 30th and final film from the great Luis Buñuel. Recounted in flashback to a group of railway travellers, the story wryly details the romantic perils of Mathieu (Buñuel favorite Fernando Rey), a wealthy, middle-aged French sophisticate who falls desperately in love with his 19-year-old former chambermaid Conchita. Thus begins a surreal game of sexual cat-and-mouse, with Mathieu obsessively attempting to win the girl's affections as she manipulates his carnal desires, each vying to gain absolute control of the other. Brimming with the subversive wit which characterizes all of Buñuel's finest work, That Obscure Object of Desire takes satiric aim at a decadent, decaying society riddled by political unrest and moral bankruptcy. The picture is absurdist even in its casting -- Rey's dialogue was dubbed by the French actor Michel Piccoli, while the two-faced, hot-and-cold Conchita is played, logically enough, by two different actresses (Carole Bouquet and Angela Molina, respectively), with the character's dialogue spoken by yet a third performer. The same Louys novel was also filmed by Josef von Sternberg in 1935 as the Marlene Dietrich vehicle The Devil Is a Woman, and again in 1959 as Julien Duvivier's La Femme et le Pantin, starring Brigitte Bardot. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide

Fernando Rey - Mathieu
Carole Bouquet - Conchita
Ángela Molina - Conchita
Julien Bertheau - Judge
André Weber - Valet

The Criterion Collection's release of Luis Buñuel's final film, That Obscure Object of Desire, is superb in all ways and is a perfect addition to their other Buñuel discs. The film -- which is based on Pierre Louys' novel and also Jacques de Baroncelli's silent film, La Femme et le Pantin -- is part farce, part romantic comedy of errors, and pure surrealistic playful Buñuel. It's also a film which has continued to cast a spell on other filmmakers including Terry Gilliam, and more importantly, David Lynch's later work, especially Lost Highway. The picture is offered in its proper letterboxed aspect ratio of 1.66:1 (anamorphically enhanced for 16 x 9 TVs) and has been given a French mono soundtrack with optional English subtitles. An English-dubbed soundtrack is also available. The picture looks fantastic and is always sharp and clear. There is occasional graininess in the picture, but overall it's great. The disc also contains a very informative and fascinating video interview with screenwriter Jean-Claude Carrière, who was a frequent artistic collaborator with the director. The interview gives the viewer a sense (however brief) of their deep artistic and personal relationship together. Also included on the disc are three excerpts from the 1929 silent film, giving one an idea of how strikingly similar Buñuel's version mirrored the earlier film. The original theatrical trailer (complete with thunderous Wagner music) has also been included, as well as some very nice liner notes and an interview with the director taken from a book about him. A disc well worth picking up. ~ Derek Hill, All Movie Guide