Luis Buñuel’s 1972 classic The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie is a satirical and absurdist examination of the hypocrisy and social conventions of the bourgeoisie. The film follows a group of wealthy friends who repeatedly attempt to have dinner together, only to be thwarted by bizarre and inexplicable interruptions. Buñuel uses these comedic disruptions to expose the superficiality of their existence and their struggle to maintain a fabricated social façade. Set in a dreamlike atmosphere where the lines between reality and illusion blur, the characters find themselves trapped in their own delusions of refinement and elegance.
Through surrealism and dark humor, Buñuel delivers sharp criticism of class divides, the naivety of the bourgeoisie, and their inability to confront the absurdity of their lives. The lack of logic and the recurring failure to complete a meal serve as a metaphor for the emptiness of their pursuit of status and their yearning for a world they can’t fully grasp. The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie is a cinematic masterpiece of rebellion, in which Buñuel brilliantly dismantles the supposed civility of the upper class while challenging viewers to reflect on the absurdities of their own social conventions. Now available in stunning 4K restoration.