Las Hurdes (1933)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Luis Buñuel

Writers:

Luis Buñuel (commentary)
Luis Buñuel (writer)

Release Date:

December 1933 (Spain)

Genre:

Short | Documentary | Drama

Plot:

A surrealistic documentary portrait of the region of Las Hurdes, a remote region of Spain where civilisation has barely developed, showing how the local peasants try to survive without even the most basic utilities and skills.

Plot Keywords:

Orphan | Dwarf | Church | Fake Documentary | Low Life

Cast

Abel Jacquin	...	(voice)
Alexandre O'Neill	...	(voice)

Also Known As:

Land Without Bread (International: English title)
Las hurdes, tierra sin pan (Spain) (long title)
Tierra sin pan (Spain) (short title)

Runtime:

USA:30 min

Country:

Spain

Language:

French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Brazil:18 | Finland:S | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Las Hurdes, Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain

Company:

Ramón Acín

Trivia:

Luis Buñuel was not above slaughtering several animals to deliver his message; he ordered the ailing donkey to be spread with honey so he could film it being stung to death by bees. Nor was the mountain goat falling off the mountain an accident, shot by Buñuel's crew for the desired sequence.

Movie Connections:

Edited into L'origine du XXIème siècle (2000)

Soundtrack:

Fourth Symphony

Version important

I have been frustrated by the version of the film that is available in my area, entitled "Unpromised Land". The original "Tierra sin Pan" has a completely different commentary which is made "politically correct" in the "Unpromised" version. Avoid "Unpromised Land" as it censors and alters the original intent of the film as conceived by Bunuel!