The Milky Way

By: Denis Blot

October 2007

DVD Features Video: 1.66:1 Audio: FRENCH: Dolby Digital Mono Video introduction by screenwriter Jean-Claude Carriere New video interview with film scholar Ian Christie Luis Bunuel: Atheist Thanks To God, a documentary featuring several of Bunuel’s close friends and collaborators Original theatrical trailer Plus: A booklet featuring new essays by Carlos Fuentes and Mark Polizzotti, and an interview with Luis Bunuel Theatrical release: 3/15/1969 DVD released on 8/21/2007 by Criterion Running time of 101 minutes Starring: Claudio Brook, Delphine Seyrig, Alain Cuny Director: Luis Bunuel

The narrative form has become so conventional at the movies that any film with a good twist, turn, or surprise becomes highly treasured by audiences. Luis Bunuel is one director who consistently managed to obtain the “double take” from viewers. His films spanning a fifty-year career are all tinged with surrealist touches that provoke emotional responses from unease to laughter and in all cases they are unexpected. “The Milky Way” was made at a time period in Bunuel’s career where he had attained enough successes to get financial backing to make films that were more personal and truer to his surrealist roots. The film climate of the late 1960s and 1970s were also conducive to films that broke with traditional forms and favored experimentation in both narrative and the visual.

Bunuel’s film, which follows two vagabonds on a pilgrimage, is full of surrealist non-sequiturs, has a narrative that appears (you are never quite sure) to jump centuries of time, and random strange chance encounters (the surrealists were fascinated by the notion of chance). The loose theme of religious heresy and how people are in constant debate as to how to truly interpret God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost as well as Christian faith in general rings very true to Bunuel’s heart.

Bunuel, who was brought up Catholic in a country where the Spanish Inquisition assured faithful devotion to the church only to turn atheist later in his life, was often at odds with religion and the church though simultaneously fascinated by Catholic ritual and the devotion people had towards religion. Many of his films have scenes taking place at churches or reference (directly or indirectly) Christianity.

Due to the religious theme, “The Milky Way” is not one of the strongest of Bunuel’s films as it lacks the kind of universal appeal that films like his “Belle De Jour” or “The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie” offer. However the film is worth seeing as even those with a rudimentary understanding of Christianity will find humor in many of the film’s scenes.

The DVD extras will also provide a better understanding of Bunuel and the film. There is a video interview with film scholar Ian Christie as well as a half-hour documentary on Bunuel, that reflects on Bunuel as a filmmaker and his approach to making “The Milky Way”. While informative the extras have a lot of talking heads that can get monotonous at times. There is as also a five minute segment with Bunuel’s collaborative screenwriter Jean-Claude Carriere that while interesting seems redundant after viewing the documentary. Bunuel fans will assuredly be pleased with the inclusion of a written interview with the legendary film director as well as by an essay by famed Mexican writer (and good friend to Bunuel) Carlos Fuentes.

Considering the current state of the world and the masses of religious fervor that resides in it, the film serves an example of how none of it is new. More importantly through Bunuel’s vision one will be able to laugh at the absurdity of the situation.

Reviewer’s Opinion: RENT IT!!