That Obscure Object of Desire

Director: Luis Buñuel
Year Released: 1977
Rating: 4.0

Reminds me of a quote by (don't laugh) Kirsten Dunst: "Boys frustrate me. I hate all their indirect messages, I hate game playing. Do you like me or don't you? Just tell me so I can get over you." The irony is that girls are just as good at game playing - most would argue better - and here is a prime example of women getting the better of men, of relationships as being unworkable, borderline impossible. Fernando Ray lusts after his 'dancer' girlfriend (played by two actresses) but she refuses to have sex with him, instead dragging him along, the only thing he (and most men) being interested in is physical in nature (if they sleep together, she says, he will no longer love her). Full of clever touches and splendid little jokes, it is a magnificent final picture (and fitting, perhaps, that the last image you get from Buñuel is fire, smoke and destruction).