Simon del deserto

The ascetic religious Simón (Claudio Brook) believes he is a sinner and decides to self-inflict a sacrifice, living like a hermit on the top of a pedestal in the middle of the desert to be closer to God and resist the temptations of the world. His followers are peasants and travelers that believe that Simón is a saint capable of performing miracles and they crowd to hear his speeches. However, Satan (Silvia Pinal) tries to tempt him with the pleasures of the world.

In accordance with the cover of the VHS, Buñuel inspired in a Christian ascetic saint called Saint Simeon Stylites that lived for thirty-seven years on a small platform on the top of a pillar to parody his story with "Simon of the Desert" and criticize religion and believers with a witty humor. The unexpected plot point is a great and funny surprise with a completely different environment, but what else could the viewer expect from the master of the surrealism? This is the first time that I see this movie that has probably inspired Monty Python's "Life of Brian" and Alanis Morissette playing God in "Dogma". My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Simon do Deserto" ("Simon of the Desert")

In his Mexican exile during the Spanish War, Luis Buñuel produced some fine films, including this one starring Claudio Brook (Alucarda, The Exterminating Angel) and Silvia Pinal (Viridiana, The Exterminating Angel) as The Devil.

This is a strange film, supposedly based upon the acts of a real saint, about an ascetic who sits atop a tall column in the desert praying, while his mother waits below.

The Devil continues to return to tempt Simon. Seeing the Devil as a woman with large breasts exposed was interesting, and would have temped me.

Simon is finally shown the futility of his penance as the world goes on despite him.

The funding for this gleefully blasphemous feature was pulled before the film was completed, resulting in an abrupt and not quite satisfying ending. Still, what's left is a little slice of heaven (pun intended) with some of its directors most direct and powerful attacks on the clergy he made a career of hating. Bunuel here presents us with an ascetic so self-involved that he declines to embrace his own mother; he restores the hands to a peasant who immediately uses them to strike his own child; he prides himself on eating only lettuce, mentioning it often and to anyone who will listen. "Simon" is a good-looking film, too, with a visual landscape that echoes its protagonist's austerity and startling surreal touches -- such as a coffin that slides through the desert scrub to the base of the column atop which Simon spends his years -- that recall the glory days of "L'Age d'Or." It might have been a masterpiece had Bunuel been allowed the full scope of his vision; it's a major film as is. 8/10

It is to be regretted that the filming of this had to be abandoned but the fact that what we have is the result of less than three weeks shooting is a testament to the skills of Luis Bunuel.

Despite the curtailed form it is still sufficient to enable the director to say what he has to say and to give us a self-contained masterpiece of film-making.

The title character, based upon ascetic Simeon Stylites who spent over three decades on top of a pillar with little or no sustenance will be seen either as an example of saintliness or foolishness but Bunuel, despite his avowed atheism, depicts him as a sympathetic figure whilst saving his customary mockery for those on the ground including the amputee who is not even grateful for having his hands miraculously restored; the dwarf who requests to be given a different blessing to that of his goats and of course the sanctimonious, extremely well-fed priests. One cannot but feel sorry for Simon's mother who still observes him whilst living in a tent despite his having renounced her in favour of God.

Very effective is the camerawork of Gabriel Figueroa who shoots from above and below. The score is suitably sparse and features the traditional Easter drums of Calenda that Bunuel utilised in 'L'Age d'Or'. The role of Simon represents the finest filmic hour of Claudio Brooks.

I have no doubt that Bunuel's feelings towards producer Gustavo Alatriste were mixed but happily for us their collaboration had previously resulted in 'Exterminating Angel' and 'Viridiana' which starred Alatriste's wife at the time, the luscious Silvia Pinal. Not only does the Devil have the best tunes but also the best guises and here her incredibly sexy personifications call to mind Oscar Wilde's "The only way to overcome Temptation is to yield to it"!

Bunuel is on top form here. Although compact this film really packs a punch and is free from the occasional longueurs of some of his full length features. It also confirms an astute critic's observation that Bunuel is as much a Realist as a Surrealist. Granted, the abrupt switch from a Fifth Century arid landscape to a Twentieth Century Manhattan nightclub is less than satisfactory but it is at least an ending of sorts. Needs must when the Devil drives!

This surrealist film is based on St. Simon Stylites who lived circa A. D. 400 . He was a ragged ascetic (well played by a bearded Claudio Brook) who spent thirty-seven years atop a seventy-foot pillar preaching to Christian flocks and avoiding temptation . As he is tempted by the devil (a beauty Silvia Pinal) under various forms.

This rare and weird movie is largely considered a Luis Buñuel's masterpiece . It's a comical parable about a tattered anchorite with some humor and hilarious criticism to Catholic Church . After returning his native country , Spain , by making 'Viridiana' played by Fernando Rey, Silvia Pinal , but this film was pursued by the national censorship and really prohibited on the grounds of blasphemy , then Buñuel with his screenwriter Julio Alejandro went back Mexico where realized in low budget 'Simon of the desert' and produced by Gustavo Alatriste . It contains good and atmospheric cinematography by excellent Mexican cameraman Gabriel Figueroa . Religious music , including a pilgrim hymn and , of course , 'the drums of Calanda' sounds , Luis Buñuel's location of birth . This movie won deservedly the Special Jury Prize at the 1965 Venice Film Festival . This is a nice strange story for Luis Buñuel aficionados, being deemed by some reviewers as one of the best short film - forty minutes- ever made . Rating : Above average , worthwhile watching.