Simon Of The Desert (Luis Buñuel)

[Alex DeLarge]

Finally restored and released by Criterion on DVD last week; a must see for all cinephiles! This has been on my "must see" list for years and was worth the wait: even at only 45 minutes, this is one powerful and thought provoking film.

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SIMON OF THE DESERT (Luis Buñuel, 1965, Mexico) Simon stands atop a pedestal, unworthy and unwashed, seeking divine grace but instead finding the human apathy of organized religion, his sacrifice an impotent curse from a deity who requires devotion above reason. Director Luis Buñuel crafts a superb condemnation of religious belief as the priests and congregation, faced with absolute proof of divine guidance, remain selfish and ignorant: while Simon is physically isolated atop this pillar, it’s the people below who are spiritually isolated from each other, seeking power and respite from suffering without payment in kind. The film begins with the church elders worshipping Simon and showing their gratitude by building him a taller and grander tower to pray upon, a recipe for moral corruption. Buñuel is sublime in his mockery of religious ideals as a double amputee begs to have his hands back, and with a few words they have miraculously appeared; the first thing the man does with his “new hands” is smack his children as they wander off listlessly. This subtle insight shines light upon the truth of intelligent non-deistic belief: god must hate amputees because there is not one documented case of a severed limb being restored by prayer, though many claim to be healed of other maladies. Soon, a beautiful woman with the devil’s tongue attempts to entice Simon from his saintly perch but each time he refuses. Finally, in wonderfully surreal imagery only Buñuel can imagine, a coffin propels itself across the wasteland and she captures Simon in a moment of weakness and transports him (via a metal coffin: a huge jet plane) to a beatnik nightclub. Newly shorn and smoking his pipe, grooving to some funky rhythm, he finally tastes the essence of humanity and struggles to return: but in his absence, someone else has already taken his place. (A)

[Phillip]

thanks for the review, alex - i've never seen this one, and have always wanted to. it's also been on my to see list for some time. it's really nice that criterion has been putting out so much bunuel this past year. i really wish they would release an eclipse box set with all of those classic mexico city films he made in the 40's and early 50's!!! those are really my favorites (los olvidados, illusion travels by streetcar, the criminal life of archibaldo de la cruz, nazarin, etc.)

[Alex DeLarge]

True that, Phillip! It's still difficult to believe that so many great films have never been released on DVD.