Subida al cielo (1952)

Director:

Luis Buñuel

Writers:

Manuel Altolaguirre (story)
Luis Buñuel (adaptation)

Release Date:

26 June 1952 (Mexico)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A young man and woman's honeymoon is cut short when the man learns that his mother has fallen ill back at home...

Plot Keywords:

Inheritance | Bus Ride | Brother Brother Relationship | Dream Sequence | Flood

Awards:

6 nominations

Cast

Lilia Prado	...	Raquel
Esteban Márquez	...	Oliverio Grajales
Luis Aceves Castañeda	...	Silvestre
Manuel Dondé	...	Eladio Gonzales
Roberto Cobo	...	Juan
Beatriz Ramos	...	Elisa
Manuel Noriega		(as Manolo Noriega)
Roberto Meyer	...	Don Nemesio Alvarez y Villalbazo
Pedro Elviro		(as Pitouto)
Pedro Ibarra
Leonor Gómez	...	Doña Linda
Chel López
Paz Villegas		(as Paz Villegas de Orellana)
Silvia Castro
Paula Rendón

Also Known As:

Ascent to Heaven (International: English title) (informal literal title)
Mexican Bus Ride (USA)

Runtime:

85 min | USA:74 min

Country:

Mexico

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Filming Locations:

Guerrero, Mexico

Company:

Producciones Isla S.A.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Anoche soñé contigo (1992)

Soundtrack:

La Sanmarqueña

left me thinking about the righteous path

Subida al cielo is a messy little story probably about the distractions and small miracles happening on everybody's way to heaven. It is short and seems simple, but there are sometimes strange things happening: has anybody the strength to go straight? If one does really go straight, one probably do not even have dreams. Dreams, wishful thinking and miracles like the improbable solution (by a little girl) for getting the bus out of the river with an ox instead of a tractor and the small miracle of the two vehicles that for no apparent reason suddenly CAN pass each other on the narrow path after a short meeting. Furthermore, Buñuel incorporates a few modest but funny dream sequences to emphasize that people (secretly) can think of other things, while they are on their certain way to heaven (the righteous path?). The English title 'Mexican Bus Ride' applies very well I guess: the whole is kind of low profile (probably also low budget :)

The acting is ok, but I never really got into the story, because the editing isn't good and there is no convincing mood to get into, although Buñuel uses some music in this movie. Miniature cars and sets make it fun to watch, but also do not convince. The movie feels more like an exercise than as a message from the heart, but I would like to see it again some time. 5/10