Luis Buñuel’s Followers (182)

Luis Buñuel

Born

in Calanda, Spain

February 22, 1900

Died

July 29, 1983

Genre

Cinema

Influences

Sade, André Breton, Fritz Lang, Francisco de Goya, Freud, Lorca, Ramón ...more

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Luis Buñuel was born on 22 February 1900 in Calanda, a small town in the Aragón region of Spain. He was a visionary filmmaker and influential figure in the history of cinema, known for his distinctive style and bold exploration of themes such as surrealism, social criticism, and human nature.

His family was wealthy and devoutly Catholic, a conservative environment that would later provide rich material for his critical and often subversive works.

Buñuel's education began in Jesuit schools, where he developed a critical view of religion that would pervade much of his later work. He moved to Madrid in 1917 to study at the University of Madrid, where he became part of an intellectual circle that included future luminaries such as Salvador Dalí Luis Buñuel was born on 22 February 1900 in Calanda, a small town in the Aragón region of Spain. He was a visionary filmmaker and influential figure in the history of cinema, known for his distinctive style and bold exploration of themes such as surrealism, social criticism, and human nature.

His family was wealthy and devoutly Catholic, a conservative environment that would later provide rich material for his critical and often subversive works.

Buñuel's education began in Jesuit schools, where he developed a critical view of religion that would pervade much of his later work. He moved to Madrid in 1917 to study at the University of Madrid, where he became part of an intellectual circle that included future luminaries such as Salvador Dalí and Federico García Lorca. This period marked the beginning of his engagement with avant-garde and surrealist ideas.

In the late 1920s, Buñuel moved to Paris, the epicenter of the surrealist movement. There, he collaborated with Salvador Dalí on his first film, "Un Chien Andalou" (1929), a 16-minute short that shocked audiences with its dreamlike imagery and disjointed narrative. The film, now considered a masterpiece of surrealist cinema, established Buñuel as a daring and original filmmaker.

Buñuel followed up with "L'Âge d'Or" (1930), another collaboration with Dalí, which further cemented his reputation. This film, with its provocative critique of the bourgeoisie and the Catholic Church, was met with outrage and censorship, solidifying Buñuel's position as a controversial and radical artist.

The political turmoil in Europe during the 1930s led Buñuel to work in various capacities, including a stint making documentaries in Spain and working in Hollywood. However, his career in the U.S. was hampered by his unorthodox style and political views. He eventually returned to Mexico, where he found a more receptive environment for his talents.

In Mexico, Buñuel directed numerous films that combined his surrealist tendencies with social and political commentary. Notable works from this period include "Los Olvidados" (1950), a gritty portrayal of urban poverty that won him the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival, and "El" (1953), a psychological drama about jealousy and obsession.

The 1960s and 1970s marked a period of international recognition and success for Buñuel. He directed several acclaimed films, including "Viridiana" (1961), which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes, "Belle de Jour" (1967), starring Catherine Deneuve, and "The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie" (1972), which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. These films showcased Buñuel's continued fascination with surrealism, his sharp wit, and his critique of societal norms.

Buñuel's later years were marked by a retreat from the public eye, but he remained active in filmmaking until his final work, "That Obscure Object of Desire" (1977). He died on July 29, 1983, in Mexico City, leaving behind a legacy that has profoundly influenced modern cinema. His work continues to be celebrated for its innovation, audacity, and enduring relevance, ensuring Buñuel's place as one of the most important filmmakers in the history of the medium. ...more

Combine Editions
Luis Buñuel’s books

Average rating: 4.23 · 4,696 ratings · 455 reviews · 88 distinct works • Similar authors

	My Last Sigh by Luis Buñuel, Abigail Israel (Translator) 4.31 avg rating — 3,860 ratings — published 1982 — 88 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	بونوئلی‌ها: نوشته‌های سوررئالیستی لوئیس بونوئل by Luis Buñuel, شیوا مقانلو (Translator) 3.36 avg rating — 220 ratings — published 2000 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Objects of Desire: Conversations With Luis Buñuel by Luis Buñuel, José de la Colina (Interviewer), Tomás Pérez Turrent (Interviewer) 4.35 avg rating — 105 ratings — published 1986 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	سگ آندلسی by Luis Buñuel, Salvador Dalí, محمد ارژنگ (Translator) 3.89 avg rating — 101 ratings — published 1982 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Viridiana (Script and Director Series) by Luis Buñuel, Inga Karetnikova (Foreword) 4.13 avg rating — 45 ratings — published 1963 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	جذابیت پنهان بورژوازی by Luis Buñuel, Jean-Claude Carrière, بهرام ری‌پور (Translator) 3.87 avg rating — 47 ratings — published 1973 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Exterminating Angel (Green Integer: 39) by Luis Buñuel, Chase Madar (Translator) 4.12 avg rating — 41 ratings — published 1981 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Belle de Jour 3.97 avg rating — 37 ratings — published 1971 — 12 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Conversaciones con Luis Buñuel by Luis Buñuel, Jorge Gorostiza (Contributor) 3.50 avg rating — 20 ratings — published 2015	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Three Screenplays: Viridiana / The Exterminating Angel / Simon of the Desert 4.06 avg rating — 16 ratings — published 1970 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Luis Buñuel…

Quotes by Luis Buñuel (?)

“You have to begin to lose your memory, if only in bits and pieces, to realize that memory is what makes our lives. Life without memory is no life at all... Our memory is our coherence, our reason, our feeling, even our action. Without it we are nothing.”
― Luis Bunuel

76 likes

“Thank God I'm an atheist!”
― Luis Bunuel

66 likes

“Sometimes, watching a movie is a bit like being raped.”
― Luis Buñuel, My Last Sigh

tags: cinema, film, movies, rape

47 likes

See all Luis Buñuel's quotes »

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Luis Buñuel’s Followers (182)

Luis Buñuel

Combine EditionsLuis Buñuel’s books

Topics Mentioning This Author

Combine Editions
Luis Buñuel’s books