Latin American Cinema, Essay Example

What is the theme of Viridiana?

“While Jorge pursues plans to modernize the estate, Viridiana attempts to convert it into a haven for derelicts” (Latin American Cinema, n.d.). The theme is that good intentions do not always have good results. Viridiana is well-intended and wants to help others by taking in people for charity. However, it appears that Jorge’s idea may have been a better plan to contribute to the happiness of the characters, because her action results in tragedy. As such, the film warns the viewer to be wary of charity.

The filmmaker used a lot of religious symbolism in his film; name 3.

“A leper dresses in the wedding dress of Don Jaime’s widow, providing a distorted mirror image of the old patriarch’s own cross-dressing. The same sickly beggar has also slaughtered a white dove, a traditional symbol of religious piety. (This is contrasted with the black bull that little Rita sees earlier in the movie, suggesting the devil is coming for them.)” (Rich, 2012). Religion is an important understanding in Viridiana, as the film focuses on the purity of Viridiana in contrast to the sins committed by the other characters. The leper dressed in the wedding dress shows a scarring of marriage, which is considered to be a holy sacrament in Christianity. Next, Da Vinci’s mural is religious because it shows “The Last Supper”. Last, the little black bull that Rita sees is symbolic of the devil, indicating that evil may triumph over good.

What did the character of Viridiana represent?

“Third Cinema aims for liberation of the oppressed, whether this oppression is based on gender, class, race, religion, or ethnicity” (Third World Cinema, n.d.). As such, Viridiana’s character represents not just purity, but the state of oppression that many women were subject to during her time period. As a character, it appears that she is not in control of her own destiny and is instead subject to the decisions and actions of others. Therefore, she is not only pure, she is representative of the struggle that many Latin American women must face within the context of their societies. They are given little power and it appears that their lives are not their own to live.

The filmmaker, Luis Bunuel collaborated with Salvador Dali on a short film, what is it called?

“While studying at the University of Madrid in the late 1910s, a young Luis Buñuel befriended an even younger Salvador Dalí. The first fruit of their association, a short film called Un Chien Andalou, appeared a decade later, in 1929, and quickly achieved the international renown it still has today” (Marshall, 2012). Luis Bunuel and Salvador Dali collaborated on a short film called Un Chien Andalou. This surrealist film shows images that are not apparently connected, but provokes thought from the viewer.

What you didn’t like or liked the most in the movie- this answer only two-3 sentences.

The story presented in the film was challenging to relate to. Although I enjoyed this film for its artistic value, it didn’t seem to be highly relevant to the struggles that people face today. Although many women like Viridiana simply drift through the situations that are presented to them, most people in the modern era are able to fight against mistreatment and take control of their own lives.

References

Latin American Cinema. (n.d.). Retrieved September 27, 2015, from http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC/LatinAmfilm.html?iframe=true&width=80%&height=80%

Marshall, C. (2012). Two Vintage Films by Salvador Dalí and Luis Buñuel: Un Chien Andalou and L’Age d’Or. Retrieved September 27, 2015 from http://www.openculture.com/2012/06/two_vintage_films_by_salvador_dali_and_luis_bunuel.html

Rich, J.S. (2012). Criterion Confessions. Retrieved September 27, 2015, from http://www.criterionconfessions.com/2012/01/viridiana-332.html

Third World Cinema. (n.d.). What is Third Cinema? Retrieved September 27, 2015 from http://thirdcinema.blueskylimit.com/thirdcinema.html

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