VIRIDIANA (CRITERION COLLECTION)

Edited By Jason Gargano

VIRIDIANA

1961, Not Rated

Ah, if only Luis Buñuel could have directed The Da Vinci Code. There'd be no hemming and hawing about whether the story's premise challenges the tenets and authority of the Catholic Church -- unlike Ron Howard, Buñuel would proudly admit it! He'd also make sure the film wasn't boring. Buñuel, who died in 1983, was an anti-bourgeois, freethinking Spaniard who bitterly opposed the Church for supporting the Fascist Franco regime and for its own authoritarian nature. He made many classics but none critiqued the Church with more vigor and anger than Viridiana, now out on DVD in this new Criterion print. In the film's most famous scene -- a "beggar's banquet" -- the young, novice nun Viridiana (Silvia Pinal) tries to share her estate with the poor only to have them get drunk and turn on her. And Buñuel stages it as a parody of Da Vinci's "Last Supper"! DVD extras include a new interview with Pinal. (Steven Rosen) Grade: A

E-mail Jason Gargano

home | cover | arts | music | movies | dining | news | columns | listings
classifieds | personals | mediakit | promotions

Privacy Policy
Cincinnati CityBeat covers news, public issues, arts and entertainment of interest to readers in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. The views expressed in these pages do not necessarily represent those of the publishers. Entire contents are copyright 2006 Lightborne Publishing Inc. and may not be reprinted in whole or in part without prior written permission from the publishers. Unsolicited editorial or graphic material is welcome to be submitted but can only be returned if accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Unsolicited material accepted for publication is subject to CityBeat's right to edit and to our copyright provisions.