That Obscure Object of Desire (1977)

A wealthy man recounts his tumultuous romance with a passionate dancer. For fans of intense dramas and complex relationships.

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Cast

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That Obscure Object of Desire(1977)

R
Movie1h 43mFrenchComedy, Drama, Romance
7.9
User Score
91%
Critic Score
IMDb

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Overview

A wealthy man on a train recounts his turbulent obsession with a much younger dancer, tracing a push-and-pull romance built on mixed signals, power games, and bruised pride. As he chases affection he can’t quite secure, the story turns darkly funny and unsettling, with surreal touches and a world that feels increasingly unstable around them.

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Review Summary

Pros: darkly funny satire; surreal, open-ended vibe; sharp character tension | Cons: can feel repetitive; requires close attention; divisive dual-casting device

Will You Like This?

You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a provocative, surreal relationship satire that’s funny, frustrating, and intentionally unsettling, especially if you liked Belle de Jour or The Phantom of Liberty; Not for you if you want straightforward romance or clear answers.

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Featured Comments/Tips

The female characters are very attractive.

Mathieu (Fernando Rey), an aging and lustful man, has fallen head over heels for 18-year-old Conchita and is determined to bang her. She repeatedly responds to his advances, only to back out at the last moment and ultimately exploit him to an increasing extent. Certainly, "This Obscure Object of Desire" is a little uncomfortable with modern eyes, but the movie is also very "European," so you shouldn't take it all too seriously. The structure of the narrative is definitely successful, and decisions such as casting the character of Conchita with two very different actresses (Carole Bouquet and Ángela Molina) also provide variety. Furthermore, there's always something to discover in the background, so it's worth staying alert. And the surprising and surrealistic ending does the rest to make for a thoroughly entertaining movie.

Typical film of Buñuel's concerns.

What a man wants. What a woman expects. The two looks with which he sees her. The duality with which she treats him. The real and the surreal. And a desire carried to sack.

Definitely a classic that shows the dark side of relationships and human desire.

The original title of the film is Cet Obscur Objet du Désir.

Luis Buñuel’s final film feels pleasantly familiar, concerning itself with many of his core themes including the horny rich old man chasing after his young muse - in this case a flamenco dancer named Conchita - in a genius move played by two different actresses, sometimes “changing faces” even in the middle of a scene. Their relationship is portrayed as an endless cycle alternating between mutual affection and rejection, once again underscoring Buñuel’s understanding of life and all of human desire as a cosmic joke poking fun at people endlessly chasing seemingly elusive goals that - if they are, against all odds, achieved - turn out to lead into just another nightmare of unfulfilled desires.

Featured User Reviews

There is just a great dynamic here between the wealthy "Mathieu" (Fernando Rey) and his mischievous femme de chambre "Conchita" (Ángela Molina & Carole Bouquet). Why two actresses? Well that's because Luis Buñuel has decided to tell this entertaining story using a couple of timelines that show just how this rather stayed and sophisticated man fell under the spell of his servant and of how their relationship evolved (to put it loosely) over time. These actresses are not, however, different to illustrate the passing of time - more to demonstrate the different and frequently contrasting personalities presented by "Conchita". We, like the passengers on the train to whom the story is being regaled, vacillate between laughter and despair as this curious character study unfolds/unravels before us in a quickly paced hundred minutes of lively cinema. The dialogue is pithy and potent - it also leaves us to make our own judgements on the characters and upon their flaws and foibles. Perhaps she is a tease? Perhaps he is a gullible old fool? Perhaps she is unhappy at being the object of an unsought affection? Perhaps he is more predatory than he might outwardly seem? Perhaps none of the aforementioned apply? Well we must judge for ourselves. It does require a bit of concentration, this film - and that's no bad thing because there is lots going on for us to enjoy with some fine and intimate photography from Edmond Richard to keep it personal and interesting too. This is well worth a big screen viewing if you can - somehow that is just more fitting for this classy and stylish - even slightly surreal - film.

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That Obscure Object of Desire Poster

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