Horst in Translation ([email protected]) This is a 43-minute black-and white short film written and directed by Luis Buñuel in his 60s at this point already. It is about a very religious and humble almost prophet-like man who looks apparently a lot older than he actually is because of his long beard and also than the actor who plays him.. When we see him transformed near the end, he looks entirely different and much younger. Anyway, we witness this man's (Claudio Brook's) interactions with all kinds pf people, including the devil in the human form of a blonde woman who exposes herself repeatedly in order to lure the man into sin. Brook was a fairly prolific actor and this can also be said about several of the other actors in here, even if they are probably completely unknown outside the Spanish-speaking parts of America. Oh yeah, with regard to that, you will also need subtitles to understand what's going on if you are not fluent in the language. Finally, I felt that this movie looks even older than from 50 years ago. All in all, I did not enjoy it too much. It had its moments, but all in all I found it underwhelming. Not recommended.

K Bunck Simon of the Desert was directed and by Luis Buñuel, and really serves to show the capacious nature of mankind. Simon, has been on top of a pillar in the middle of a desert for 6 years, 6 months, and 6 days ( a coincidence?) praying, in order to show his devotion to God. People of all walks of life, from a thief whose hands have been cut off, to the Priests of the nearby church, come by in an attempt to witness a miracle, in a thinly veiled attempt to pay their respect. After Simon asks God to restore the thief's hands, the first action the man does with his hands, clasp them together and thank god? I think not, instead he slaps his child, showing that he was not really repentant, and was just taking advantage of Simon's good graces with God. After everyone witness this miracle, they all leave, having seen what they came there to see. It is after this that the devil appears to Simon first in the guise of a beautiful young woman, and then disguised as Jesus (played by Silvia Pinal, the wife of the man financing the films) and tries to get Simon to step off his pillar. The pillar represents Simons attempt to literally get closer to God and get away from earthly desires. As the devil tries to convince Simon to leave the pillar he or she is trying to have Simon renounce God, by giving up, on his internal promise to God. It is not clear whether the Devil has visited Simon any time before visit. If the devil had not visited Simon before then, why was he/she visiting now? It stands to reason that something must have changed, perhaps the fact that more people were going to see Simon and witness the healing power of God, this could have upset the Devil enough to put a plan in motion. Taking Simon away from his pillar.

finchy9-976-77969 Simon of the Desert was definitely an odd film. I mean the whole movie it is just this legitimately insane man, named Simon, just standing on a pillar praying to God. The odd this is that he has been doing this for six years, six weeks, and six days (that's not coincidental at all). But seriously this guy is nuts. He abandons everyone he loves and everything sane about the human world for God. And now comes along Satan whose is constantly disguised so that he can try and convince Simon to come down from the pillar and stop praying to God. Satan first comes to Simon as a beautiful woman, hoping to entice Simon to get off the pillar, Simon refuses and continues praying to God. Then Satan comes disguised as Jesus Christ himself, but Simon calls the bluff again and ignores Satan again and continues praying to God. Then a coffin pulls up next to the pillar and out jumps Satan, without a disguise, and carries Simon off to some place unknown. The next thing you know you are staring at a nightclub full of people just dancing. We have gone from being back in the bible days to what seems like a modern day night club. And as the camera pans through all the people dancing. We catch Simon sitting at a table in the middle of the dance floor sitting there with Satan. He says he wants to go, but Satan says not and gets up and starts dancing. It is a very strange film, but it is very similar to the story in the Bible when Jesus was in the desert fasting for forty days and Satan comes to him three times and tries to tempt Jesus to bow before him. This film is like the satirical version of that story. I do not really what to think about the film, honestly, it just has to bizarre of an ending.

Joshua Weatherl Buñuel, in this classic surrealist film, captures the spirit of the turbulent 60s, while imposing his criticisms of The Church, Spanish culture. Unfortunately, they ran out of money mid production, leaving a traditional ending up in the wind (though, when talking about Buñuel, traditional is almost always up in the wind). The narrative is somewhat classic in that it follows a time based plot which focuses on several central characters. The cinematography captures the desert and the scenery of rural life in Mexico. The acting, although somewhat surreal, is excellent, and further underlines the criticisms that Buñuel was attempting to pull out of this film.In trying to dissect this film, it's difficult to give a play-by-play, but the elements of the film play well with one another, giving the impression of a well thought out, and excellently executed film, which, in some ways, asks more questions than it answers.A must watch, Simón del desiert is a classic in the history of surrealist films.