That Obscure Object of Desire (1977)

Recounted in flashback are the romantic perils of Mathieu, a middle-aged French sophisticate as he falls for his nineteen-year-old former chambermaid Conchita.

Director:

Luis Buñuel (as Luis Bunuel)

Writers:

Luis Buñuel (scenario) (as Luis Bunuel), Jean-Claude Carrière (collaboration) (as Jean-Claude Carriere)

Stars:

Fernando Rey, Carole Bouquet, Ángela Molina

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Fernando Rey	...	Mathieu
Carole Bouquet	...	Conchita
Ángela Molina	...	Conchita (as Angela Molina)
Julien Bertheau	...	Edouard
André Weber	...	Martin (as Andre Weber)
Milena Vukotic	...	Femme dans le train
María Asquerino	...	Encarnación - madre de Conchita
Ellen Bahl	...	Manolita
Valerie Blanco	...	Isabelle (as Valérie Blanco)
Auguste Carrière	...	La femme qui reprise dans la vitrine (as Auguste Carriere)
Jacques Debary	...	Un voyageur
Antonio Duque	...	Conducteur
André Lacombe	...	Portier
Lita Lluch-Peiro	...	Ballerine
Annie Monange

Storyline

Just after boarding a train, much to the surprise of his fellow passengers, a man pours a bucket of water over a young girl on the platform. Over the next few hours he explains (and we see in flashback) how he became obsessed by her (so much so that he failed to notice that she was played by two different actresses, representing different sides of her personality), and how she tantalised him, but would never allow him to satisfy his desire for her...

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Plot Keywords:

multiple actors for one character | older man younger woman relationship | manipulation | unrequited love | paris france | 

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Taglines:

Luis Bunuel's Masterpiece

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Luis cameo: as in 'Belle De Jour' and 'Phantom of Liberty' Bunuel does another walk-on in Obscure Object.. immediately after Fernando Rey's first scene - Luis and his chauffeur are blown to bits on their way to the bank, victims of an unexplained terrorist attack.

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Goofs

Mathieu enters the room where Conchita dances nude, throws the leftmost table to the right, and chases out all the men. The remaining table and chairs on the left are standing upright. After they talk for two minutes the camera returns to the area with the tables, where that same table and chairs lean against the wall in disarray.

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Quotes

Mathieu: My Conchita...

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Connections

Referenced in The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs: Tourist Trap (2018)

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Soundtracks

Die Walküre
Written by Richard Wagner
Performed by Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele
Conducted by Karl Böhm
Philips 6747947

User Reviews

Could have been made last week

Depending on your point of view, this film is either a biting, insightful, timeless illumination of human dignity and indignity or a woeful commentary on how painfully slowly we evolve. The main story, humorous and poignant by turns, is punctuated by subplot bits that come right out of this week's news. Not bad for a film shot a quarter of a century ago.

Fernando Rey is simply wonderful, and Conchita are fabulous! Bunuel, as always, is once again a delight.

Details

Country:

France Spain

Language:

French Spanish

Release Date:

8 October 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

That Obscure Object of Desire

Filming Locations:

Courbevoie, Hauts-de-Seine, France

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,864

Company Credits

Production Co:

Greenwich Film Productions, Les Films Galaxie, In-Cine Compañía Industrial Cinematográfica

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1