Viridiana (1961)

Viridiana, a young nun about to take her final vows, pays a visit to her widowed uncle at the request of her Mother Superior.

Director:

Luis Buñuel

Writers:

Luis Buñuel (story), Julio Alejandro (story),

Stars:

Silvia Pinal, Francisco Rabal, Fernando Rey

1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Silvia Pinal	...	Viridiana
Francisco Rabal	...	Jorge
Fernando Rey	...	Don Jaime
José Calvo	...	Don Amalio (as Jose Calvo)
Margarita Lozano	...	Ramona
José Manuel Martín	...	El Cojo
Victoria Zinny	...	Lucia
Luis Heredia	...	Manuel 'El Poca'
Joaquín Roa	...	Señor Zequiel
Lola Gaos	...	Enedina
María Isbert	...	Beggar (as Maruja Isbert)
Teresa Rabal	...	Rita (as Teresita Rabal)

Storyline

Viridiana, a young novice about to take her final vows as a nun, accedes to a request from her widowed uncle to visit him. Moved purely by a sense of obligation, she does so. Her uncle is moved by her resemblance to his late wife to attempt to seduce Viridiana, and tragedy ensues. In the aftermath, Viridiana tries to assuage her guilt by creating a haven for the destitute folk who live around her uncle's estate. But from these good intentions, too, comes little good.

---

Plot Keywords:

nun | vow | novice | mother superior | guilt | 

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Spain Mexico

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

19 March 1962 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Madrid, Spain

Box Office

Gross:

ESP 112,061,100 (Spain)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Unión Industrial Cinematográfica (UNINCI), Gustavo Alatriste, Films 59

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Klangfilm-Magnetocord)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

After years of living in Mexico, Luis Buñuel was persuaded to make his first film in his native Spain since 1936 by the vanguard of young contemporary Spanish film-makers who admired his work.

---

Connections

Referenced in Drowning by Numbers (1988)

---

Soundtracks

"Hallejujah Chorus"
(uncredited)
from "The Messiah"
Written by George Frideric Handel

User Reviews

One of Bunuel's masterpieces.

Beautiful and devout Viridiana (Silvia Pinal in an impressive performance) is about to take her final vows as a nun, and enter a convent. At the urging of her Mother Superior she takes a short break to visit her estranged Uncle and benefactor Don Jaime (Bunuel regular, the always wonderful Fernando Rey). Reluctantly she does so thinking it will be the last time she sees him before devoting her life to God. Don Jaime, a complex man, has other plans for Viridiana - he wants to take her as his wife. What follows is unpredictable, fascinating and an almost perfect piece of film making. Highly controversial in its day, and accused of blasphemy, it may not be as shocking to our cynical, secular eyes, but it still packs a punch, and is highly recommended. One of Luis Bunuel's greatest achievements.