Viridiana 4K 1961 Ultra HD 2160p

Viridiana's uncle, who paid for her education, really wants to see her at his castle before she takes her vows as a nun. In fact, her uncle has been in love with his niece for a long time. This passion overwhelms Viridiana so much that she decides not to return to the convent.

User Review

Luis Buñuel is often called “the Salvador Dalí of cinema.” And this is no coincidence: practically all of the great Spanish director's work consists of surrealistic, enigmatic films that defy logical analysis, precisely comparable to the paintings of his famous compatriot. It is extremely difficult for an unprepared viewer to perceive the delirious fantasies of the scandalous director, whose ideas often arose from his own nightmares. However, Buñuel's biography also includes films that are more accessible, less pretentious, and aimed primarily at a wide audience. One such work was Viridiana, which won the Palme d'Or at the 1961 Cannes Film Festival. It was precisely the simplicity and clarity of the film, coupled with the possibility of interpreting what was seen in a rational way, that played a major role in the film being awarded this prestigious film prize. But the absence of “surrealistic delirium” does not mean that Viridiana is devoid of any meaning. On the contrary, the film has meaning in abundance.

Raised in a devout Catholic family, Luis Buñuel often addressed religious issues in his films. In this regard, Viridiana is the quintessence of the director's work, becoming the second film in a kind of anti-religious trilogy that began with Nazarin and ended with Simon the Desert Father.

Once again, the director rejects the possibility of leading a highly spiritual life in the modern world, which, according to Buñuel, is nothing more than a collection of depraved, cynical, and pathetic parasites. Buñuel's heroine, a young novice with the beautiful name Viridiana, inherits the expensive estate of her uncle, who committed suicide. Deciding to leave the convent, the girl hopes to continue “the teachings of Christ” in ordinary life by helping the sick and suffering. Viridiana's house becomes a commune where the poor and destitute find refuge. She gives them food, money, and shelter. But are these dirty, soulless, vicious creatures, more like animals, capable of appreciating the highly moral impulse of Viridiana, who sacrificed everything for the common good? The answer to this question is the director's main message to the viewer.

Viridiana features Buñuel's regular actors. While the director had already worked with Francisco Rabal on Nazarin, this was his first time working with Silvia Pinal and Fernando Rey. Both then successfully moved on to the Master's subsequent films: The Exterminating Angel, Simon the Desert Father, Tristana, and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie.

It is also important to note that the twelve actors playing the poor were dressed in real beggars' rags, found by the filmmakers in the numerous slums of Madrid. For greater authenticity, Buñuel invited a real homeless man from the alleyways to play the role of the Leper.

Most film critics quite rightly noted that much of this film carries a hidden, sometimes subtle meaning. This is especially true of the scene of the meal with the beggars, in which Buñuel deliberately copies the composition of Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting “The Last Supper.” And one cannot disagree with this.

Despite winning the Palme d'Or, Buñuel's film nevertheless sparked fierce controversy in the director's homeland. Most viewers considered the film immoral, offending their own religious beliefs. This was despite the fact that the film did not contain any vulgar scenes whatsoever. In Spain, as in other European countries, Viridiana was banned from screening for a long time. Buñuel himself claimed that he wanted to make an ordinary black comedy with a slight erotic and religious undertone. Time has put everything in its place: today, Viridiana is recognized as one of the best films not only by the director himself, but also by the entire world of cinema.

Info Video

Codec: HEVC / H.265 (83.0 Mb/s)
Resolution: Native 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.66:1

Info Audio

#Spanish: FLAC 1.0
#English: Dolby Digital 2.0 (Commentary by critic Michael Brooke)

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