Cet Obscur Objet Du Désir (That Obscure Object Of Desire) directed by Luis Buñuel (France/Spain, 1977)
There are plenty of films where women are badly treated by men but in this movie it is the man who is a victim of sorts and , like all the best farces, it has a tragic aspect.
Mathieu (Fernando Rey) has status, power and wealth, all of which gives him a sense of entitlement with a younger woman from a less privileged background. He meets her when she is taken on as a new housemaid and it’s a case of lust at first sight. He invites her to bring a drink (an aphrodisiac!) to his room and immediately makes direct advances.
She wisely resists and the next morning he learns that she has packed and left without notice and giving no indication of a forwarding address. This first rejection sets the pattern for their unconsummated relationship. Continue reading
