Cinema
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
Le Charme discret de la bourgeoisie
Luis Buñuel · 1972
Synopsis
In France, in the present day. Rafael Acosta, ambassador of Miranda, an imaginary South American republic, the Thévenot couple, Simone Thévenot's sister and the Sénéchal couple, wealthy bourgeois, try to dine together. Every attempt fails: the guests get the day wrong, the hosts slip away into the garden, a regiment on manoeuvres invites itself to the table. These setbacks follow one another without anyone being surprised, and the dreams of several characters merge into the story until they can no longer be told apart from it.
Context
The starting point was an anecdote that had happened to the producer, Serge Silberman, which became the first scene; Buñuel wrote the screenplay with Jean-Claude Carrière. The title was found on the last evening; the adjective was added on a remark from Carrière. The director wanted to shoot in Spain and was prevented by Francoist censorship: the film, co-produced by France, Italy and Spain, was shot in the Paris region, with Fernando Rey, Delphine Seyrig, Stéphane Audran, Bulle Ogier, Jean-Pierre Cassel and Paul Frankeur. It consists of five gatherings and four dreams.
Who it is for
A black, surrealist comedy made of repeating scenes and nested dreams; the world in it is illogical and the characters accept it.
Prizes and reception
Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 1973; British Academy Film Awards for Stéphane Audran and for the screenplay.