The Milky Way (1969)
"La voie lactée" (original title)

Two drifters go on a pilgrimage from France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Along the way, they hitchhike, beg for food, and face the Christian dogmas and heresies from different Ages.

Director:

Luis Buñuel

Writers:

Luis Buñuel, Jean-Claude Carrière

Stars:

Paul Frankeur, Laurent Terzieff, Alain Cuny

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Frankeur	...	Pierre
Laurent Terzieff	...	Jean
Alain Cuny	...	L'homme à la cape / Man with cape
Edith Scob	...	La Vierge Marie / Virgin Mary
Bernard Verley	...	Jésus / Jesus
François Maistre	...	Le curé fou / French Priest
Claude Cerval	...	Le brigadier / Brigadier
Muni	...	La mère supérieure / Mother Superior
Julien Bertheau	...	Richard 'maître d'hôtel' / Maitre d'Hotel
Ellen Bahl	...	Madame Garnier
Michel Piccoli	...	Le marquis de Sade / The Marquis
Agnès Capri	...	La directrice de l'institution Lamartine / Teacher
Michel Etcheverry	...	L'inquisiteur / The Inquisitor
Pierre Clémenti	...	L'ange de la mort / The Devil
Georges Marchal	...	Le jésuite / The Jesuit

Storyline

Two drifters go on a pilgrimage from France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Along the way, they hitchhike, beg for food, and face the Christian dogmas and heresies from different Ages.

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Plot Keywords:

vagabond | religion | surrealism | nun | bible | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

M

Details

Country:

France West Germany Italy

Language:

French Italian Latin

Release Date:

15 March 1969 (France)

Also Known As:

The Milky Way

Filming Locations:

Forêt d'Halatte, Oise, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fraia Film, Greenwich Film Productions, Medusa Produzione

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to his autobiography, _My Last Sigh_, Luis Buñuel got the idea of making the film after reading _Historia de los heterodoxos españoles_ by Marcelino Menéndez y Pelayo.

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Goofs

During the seen with the "free love" Catholics in the forest, the wide angle shots are taken during the day, while the close-ups and medium shots are clearly not during the day.

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Connections

Featured in Buñuel: Atheist Thanks to God (2005)

User Reviews

Unfunny and Boring Mess

The drifters Pierre (Paul Frankeur) and Jean (Laurent Terzieff) pilgrimage from France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain hitchhiking and begging for food. Along their journey, they face the Christian dogmas and heresies from different Ages.

I have seen most of Buñuel films and this director is among my favorites. The master of the surrealism uses Catholic symbols in his films fruit of his strict religious education among the Jesuits. Unfortunately "La Voie Lactée" is an unfunny and boring mess since I can not laugh with jokes with any religion. For me, this is the worst film of Buñuel's filmography so far. My vote is two.

Title (Brazil): "Via Láctea" ("Milky Way")