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Viridiana

Play trailer Poster for Viridiana 1962 1h 30m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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97% Tomatometer 32 Reviews 90% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Viridinia (Silvia Pinal) is preparing to start her life as a nun when she is sent, somewhat unwillingly, to visit to her aging uncle, Don Jaime (Fernando Rey). He supports her; but the two have met only once. Jaime thinks Viridinia resembles his dead wife. Virdinia has secretly despised this man all her life and finds her worst fears proven when Jaime grows determined to seduce his pure niece. Viridinia becomes undone as her uncle upends the plans she had made to join the convent.
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Viridiana

Viridiana

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Critics Consensus

Viridiana is quintessential Bunuel: a masterpiece against the grain, designed to shock and awe.

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Critics Reviews

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J. Hoberman The New York Review of Books 08/14/2020
Made in Franco's Spain, Luis Buñuel's blasphemous comedy Viridiana (1961) poked a finger in the dictator's eye... Go to Full Review
Derek Malcolm Guardian 05/14/2020
One of the cinema's inalienable masterpieces. Go to Full Review
Margaret Hinxman Daily Telegraph (UK) 05/14/2020
Bitterly humourous. Go to Full Review
Eddie Harrison film-authority.com Dec 19
4/5
…essential Luis Bunuel, stark, antagonistic, unforgiving… Go to Full Review
Justine Smith Vague Visages 06/06/2024
The overall beauty of Buñuel’s work always lies in his malleability... Go to Full Review
Penelope Gilliatt Observer (UK) 01/22/2024
Luis Bunuel's Viridiana, he scorching anti-clerical masterpiece that won the Golden Palm at Cannes last year, must be one of the most impudent gestures in the whole history of the cinema. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Alexsander F Jan 29 Um bom filme, que nos faz refletir de certa forma sobre a nossa consciência de classe. Buñuel é um mestre do cinema mundial. See more Alec B 11/10/2023 While Buñuel's intent is to tear down the hypocrisies of piety, he actually allows his central character to have a real transformation rather than simply attack her beliefs, which makes the satire all the more effective. See more dave s 08/07/2022 Luis Bunuel's Viridiana is a story told in two parts. Viridiana (Silvia Pinal), a young nun, reluctantly visits her estranged uncle, only to find that he considers her a replacement for his long-dead wife. After his suicide, she reevaluates her life and dedicates her time to helping the downtrodden, inviting a group of the poor to share her living space in the uncle's mansion. While Bunuel's trademark surrealism is missing, it still hits the mark in other ways. Subversive? Probably. Blasphemous? Yeah, depending on your perspective. But, most importantly, it is fantastic, one of Bunuel's most accessible and impactful films, thanks mostly to Bunuel's scathing script and creative direction (pans suddenly turn into tracking shots, etc.), some beautiful cinematography and lighting, and a great performance from Pinal. It's hard to find fault with Viridiana – it is that good. See more 09/03/2021 It starts as a good movie, and this cynical vision of innocence and trust is really well put, but at one point you start to realize things, like how the story never gets engaging, how you never formed a bond or cared too much about any character (not even the protagonist), how you never see characters grow or develop relationships with each other, and the worst of all, how in the end, as much as it is a comedy, you barely laughed once or twice. See more 05/31/2021 Liked this one. Creepy uncle spiking his niece's drink and sexually assaulting her, then some homeless people wrecking a house before trying to rape her and then the happy ending as part of a polyamorous triumvirate. It's a hoot. Actually very risky and cutting edge film making. Great plot, well acted. Worthy of its reputation. See more William L 12/26/2020 If you're going out, don't forget your crucifix-knife! A scathing critique of human nature and the pretensions associated with organized religion, Buñuel was clearly out for blood with Viridiana, aiming to antagonize a social establishment in historically Catholic Spain. In the film, there are no heroes and no true idealists, only the practical acting on their own very objective desires, often using whatever means are at their disposal. Very bleak in its assessment of humanity and the role of virtue and generosity; considered vital to the maintenance of righteousness in the Christian faith, the director here presents them as wholly impractical, and often a facade for more base ambitions. In an increasingly secular world, it's easy to see Viridiana maintaining its status as one of the most substantial masterpieces of both Spanish film and of Buñuel. (4.5/5) See more Read all reviews
Viridiana

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Movie Info

Synopsis Viridinia (Silvia Pinal) is preparing to start her life as a nun when she is sent, somewhat unwillingly, to visit to her aging uncle, Don Jaime (Fernando Rey). He supports her; but the two have met only once. Jaime thinks Viridinia resembles his dead wife. Virdinia has secretly despised this man all her life and finds her worst fears proven when Jaime grows determined to seduce his pure niece. Viridinia becomes undone as her uncle upends the plans she had made to join the convent.
Director
Luis Buñuel
Producer
Gustavo Alatriste
Screenwriter
Julio Alejandro, Luis Buñuel, Benito Pérez Galdós
Distributor
Kingsley-International Pictures Inc.
Production Co
Unión Industrial Cinematográfica (UNINCI)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
European Spanish
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 11, 1962, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 27, 2017
Runtime
1h 30m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
35mm
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