The Exterminating Angel
Director: Luis Buñuel
Actors: Silvia Pinal, Jacqueline Andere, Enrique Rambal
PlotFollowing an opera performance, a group of affluent guests joins their hosts for a lavish dinner at their mansion. Initially, the soirée proceeds as expected, with social pleasantries and highbrow conversations. However, as the evening progresses, the guests find themselves inexplicably unable to leave the drawing room. There are no physical barriers preventing their exit, yet a shared psychological constraint grips them. This peculiar situation fosters an environment where civility begins to unravel, and the true nature of each guest surfaces.
As hours turn into days, the luxurious setting deteriorates and basic survival instincts emerge. Characters exhibit increasingly erratic behavior, confronting their own moral and emotional limitations. Tensions rise, relationships fracture, and societal norms collapse under the strain of confinement. Amid the growing chaos, attempts to break free fail repeatedly, heightening a sense of existential dread. The confined space becomes a crucible revealing the fragility of social order and the darkness lurking beneath genteel facades.
Writers: Luis Buñuel, Luis Alcoriza
Release Date: 21 Aug 1967
Runtime: 95 min
Rating: Not Rated
Country: Mexico
Language: Spanish
Home Video Reviews
A compelling surreal satire with solid video/audio, though showing its age; the included insightful documentary makes it a highly recommended release.
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