ComedyDramaRomance

That Obscure Object of Desire

- Luis Buñuel's masterpiece

After dumping a bucket of water on a beautiful young woman from the window of a train car, wealthy Frenchman Mathieu, regales his fellow passengers with the story of the dysfunctional relationship between himself and the young woman in question, a fiery 19-year-old flamenco dancer named Conchita. What follows is a tale of cruelty, depravity and lies -- the very building blocks of love.

Release Date : 1977-08-17

Language :SpanishFrench

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : IncineGreenwich Film ProductionLes Films Galaxie

Production Country : FranceSpain

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Mathieu Faber

Original Name : Fernando Rey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Conchita

Original Name : Carole Bouquet

Gender : Female

Character Name : Conchita

Original Name : Ángela Molina

Gender : Female

Character Name : Édouard

Original Name : Julien Bertheau

Gender : Male

Character Name : Martin

Original Name : André Weber

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mother on the Train

Original Name : Milena Vukotić

Gender : Female

Character Name : Encarnación, Conchita's Mother

Original Name : María Asquerino

Gender : Female

Character Name : Manolita

Original Name : Ellen Bahl

Gender : Female

Character Name : Isabelle

Original Name : Valerie Blanco

Gender : Male

Character Name : Woman who Mending at the Window

Original Name : Auguste Carrière

Gender : Male

Character Name : Judge on the Train

Original Name : Jacques Debary

Gender : Male

Character Name : Driver

Original Name : Antonio Duque

Gender : Male

Character Name : Doorman

Original Name : André Lacombe

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dancer

Original Name : Lita Lluch-Peiro

Gender : Female

Character Name : Employée du cabaret

Original Name : Annie Monange

Gender : Female

Character Name : Garçon dans le bar

Original Name : Jean-Claude Montalban

Gender : Male

Character Name : Concierge

Original Name : Muni

Gender : Female

Character Name : Deporting Policeman

Original Name : Bernard Musson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Psychology Teacher

Original Name : Piéral

Gender : Male

Character Name : Secretary

Original Name : Isabelle Rattier

Gender : Female

Character Name : El Morenito

Original Name : David Rocha

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jadiner

Original Name : Isabelle Sadoyan

Gender : Female

Character Name : Employé agence de voyages

Original Name : Juan Santamaría

Gender : Male

Character Name : (uncredited)

Original Name : Mario David

Gender : Male

Character Name : (uncredited)

Original Name : Agnès Gattegno

Gender : Female

Character Name : (uncredited)

Original Name : Silke Humel

Gender : Male

Character Name : (uncredited)

Original Name : Roger Ibáñez

Gender : Male

Character Name : (uncredited)

Original Name : Richard Leduc

Gender : Male

Character Name : (uncredited)

Original Name : Guy Montagné

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sect's Member (uncredited)

Original Name : Justo Ruiz

Gender : Male

Reviews

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2022-11-04

There is just a great dynamic here between the wealthy "Mathieu" (Fernando Rey) and his mischievous femme de chambre "Conchita" (Ángela Molina & Carole Bouquet). Why two actresses? Well that's because Luis Buñuel has decided to tell this entertaining story using a couple of timelines that show just how this rather stayed and sophisticated man fell under the spell of his servant and of how their relationship evolved (to put it loosely) over time. These actresses are not, however, different to illustrate the passing of time - more to demonstrate the different and frequently contrasting personalities presented by "Conchita". We, like the passengers on the train to whom the story is being regaled, vacillate between laughter and despair as this curious character study unfolds/unravels before us in a quickly paced hundred minutes of lively cinema. The dialogue is pithy and potent - it also leaves us to make our own judgements on the characters and upon their flaws and foibles. Perhaps she is a tease? Perhaps he is a gullible old fool? Perhaps she is unhappy at being the object of an unsought affection? Perhaps he is more predatory than he might outwardly seem? Perhaps none of the aforementioned apply? Well we must judge for ourselves. It does require a bit of concentration, this film - and that's no bad thing because there is lots going on for us to enjoy with some fine and intimate photography from Edmond Richard to keep it personal and interesting too. This is well worth a big screen viewing if you can - somehow that is just more fitting for this classy and stylish - even slightly surreal - film.