The Exterminating Angel (1962)
A film by Luis Buņuel
This is a brilliant and blistering assault on conventional and rational thought by Buņuel, and one of his best and unique films. The film begins seemingly usual. A collection of guests arrive at a large house for dinner. But some of the maids and servants start to leave in a hurry. They hide from the incoming guests in the hall, then flee, as if they can sense the impending event that will entrap the guests within the house.
After the dinner the guests cannot leave. There is no physical barrier at all, but they have no desire to leave the house. They cannot think in their minds that they want to leave. Days pass, and the guests quarrel and fight. Some commit suicide, some hallucinate. They become uncivilized and savage-like. Some sheep enter the house and they eat them. A bear enters the house. Outside the house the Army & Police watch and cannot enter. A little boy starts to walk towards the house, and is encouraged and cheered on by the crowd. He takes a few steps, then retreats in fear.
Eventually all the guests realize together that they can think about leaving, and do so. They all then make for the nearest church to thank God. Then they cannot leave there. Brilliant. One of Buņuel's best films.
"An unsound and unsightly mixture of spurious allegory and genuine craziness." - John Simon
"A bitter, brilliant, and darkly comic work." - Roger Ebert
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
