Simon of the Desert
(1965)
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Simon of the Desert
(1965)
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Claudio Brook | ... | |
| Silvia Pinal | ... | ||
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Enrique Álvarez Félix | ... |
Brother Matías
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Hortensia Santoveña | ... |
The Mother
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Francisco Reiguera | ... | |
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Luis Aceves Castañeda | ... |
Priest
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Enrique García Álvarez |
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Antonio Bravo | ... |
Priest
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Enrique del Castillo | ... |
The Mutilated One
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Eduardo MacGregor |
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Simon, a deeply religious man living in the 4th century, wants to be nearer to God so he climbs a column. The Devil wants him come down to Earth and is trying to seduce him. But Simon recognizes him everytime. So the Devil takes him to a nightclub in New York of the 1960s. Written by Stephan Eichenberg <eichenbe@fak-cbg.tu-muenchen.de>
The ascetic religious Simón (Claudio Brook) believes he is a sinner and decides to self-inflict a sacrifice, living like a hermit on the top of a pedestal in the middle of the desert to be closer to God and resist the temptations of the world. His followers are peasants and travelers that believe that Simón is a saint capable of performing miracles and they crowd to hear his speeches. However, Satan (Silvia Pinal) tries to tempt him with the pleasures of the world.
In accordance with the cover of the VHS, Buñuel inspired in a Christian ascetic saint called Saint Simeon Stylites that lived for thirty-seven years on a small platform on the top of a pillar to parody his story with "Simon of the Desert" and criticize religion and believers with a witty humor. The unexpected plot point is a great and funny surprise with a completely different environment, but what else could the viewer expect from the master of the surrealism? This is the first time that I see this movie that has probably inspired Monty Python's "Life of Brian" and Alanis Morissette playing God in "Dogma". My vote is eight.
Title (Brazil): "Simon do Deserto" ("Simon of the Desert")