Nazarín

"Nazarin" directed by Luis Bunuel presents an extraordinary view of religion in Mexico. As written by the director and Julio Alejandro, his notable collaborator, this was a film that put Mexican cinema in the international map after receiving the Grand Prix in Cannes that year. It's a disturbing film because Mr. Bunuel delves deep into what's wrong with the church.

Nazarin, by all reckoning, is a saint. This young priest is seen living a life of poverty in a seedy pension of a city. He doesn't have enough for himself, but he doesn't mind parting with a coin when a beggar appears by his window asking for help. At the same time, he takes into his small room a prostitute that has been hurt in a fight with another woman. Andara, the woman repays his kindness by burning the room and the whole building! Nazarin is seen taking to the countryside begging for food. Andara and Beatriz, two prostitutes from his old town follow him. Nazarin's life parallels that of Jesus. In fact, this saintly figure makes a case for humility.

Of course,Mr. Bunuel had no religion in mind when he and Mr. Alejandro took it upon themselves to create this film. It's ironic how Spain welcomed him after this film was released because they saw it as showing Christian qualities, when in reality, this is an acerbic satire on the catholic church and its ministers.

Francisco Rabal, the Spanish actor, makes a wonderful Nazarin. This was one of his best roles. Mr. Rabal worked extensively in his native country, but also in Mexico and Argentina. Rita Macedo, as Andara, is also excellent. Marga Lopez also makes a valuable contribution with her portrayal of Beatriz.

A great film by one of the cinema's master film makers: Luis Bunuel.

When you look at Mexico's best movies you will more than likely find that the Photography was performed by Gabriel Figueroa. He is recognized in the world as one of the best that have ever existed. His master control of the cameras gave an added asset to the movies he was part of. If added to his participation we add the direction of Luis Bunuel, you will never find such a pair of aces anywhere else in the world. This story, Nazarin, was written by Spain's greatest writer besides Miguel de Cervantes(Don Quijote de la Mancha). The story in itself is superb: Nazarin a priest that lives by his beliefs tries to live a very Christian life, but as always there are people that do not accept this. He wanders through many places preaching his Christianity but finding, most of the time, people that do not accept him. But besides the splendid story, it is always interesting to try to interpret the enigmatic messages that Bunuel sends us throughout the picture in scenes that make you shiver.

A non-denominational journeyman priest wanders across the sins , plagues and poverty of the lower classes and secular world . Along the way he experiencies a number of thunderous episodes that have relation with the Gospels .At the beginning he lives at an old hostel along with a few prostitutes who rob him some belongings . Later on , Nazarin undertakes a religious journey followed by the problematic and epileptic Beatriz : Marga Lopez , and, by Andara : Rita Macedo who formerly murdered a woman . Nazarin efforts to follow Christ's teachings, he then learns the thought-provoking lessons about he can get charity as well as give it .

Here Buñuel never ridicules religion, but he carries out a sour critical to limited religious aspects, and he observes how irrelevant most of his work is to the sinners Nazarin tangles with. This is a scathing indictment of Christianity , well written and directed by the great filmmaker Buñuel. Drama, religion, and documentary-alike account of whores, waifs, beggars, dwarf, street urchins and poor people in the blocks, streets and outdoors from Mexico country. "Nazarin" is a true Buñuel hero well represented by Francisco Rabal who gives a very good acting as Nazarin , a priest who gathers together a little group of disciples wandering throughout the Mexican desert as a cross between JesusChrist and Don Quixote. It results to be a perfect vehicle for Francisco Rabal as the defrocked reverend attempting to relive Christ's life. The Spanish actor Francisco Rabal is well accompanied by an enjoyable Mexican cast such as : Marga López, Rita Macedo, Ignacio López Tarso, Murayama and Rosanda Monteros who acted in The Magnificent Seven.

It contains an evocative and atmospheric cinematography in black and white, shot in Churubasco studios and exteriors filmed in Mexican landscapes by the expert cameraman Gabriel Figueroa , Indio Fernandez's regular photographer . The motion picture was competently directed by Luis Buñuel , at his grimmest and usual style. It was directed in his Mexican period, once he exiled from Spain to France and later on, Mexico . The first one he made in Mexico was "Gran Casino" with the singer idol Jorge Negrete, following "The great madcap or El gran calavera" with Fernando Soler. Then he was hired by producer Oscar Dancigers to make the successful "The forgotten ones or Los olvidados". Buñuel went on directing a in Mexico several films, some of them with same producer, such as : "The devil and the flesh, Mexican bus ride, The brute, Robinson Crusoe, A woman without love, Wuthering heighs, Archibald Cruz's criminal life , Evil Eden, The young one, Angel Exterminator, Simon of the desert" . Exiled Buñuel followed a French period including titles as "Diary of a chambermaid, Belle de Jour, The milky way, Discreet charm of Bourgeoise, The phantom of liberty". Of course, this great Spanish actor also shot films in Spain, such as : "Hurdes tierra sin pan", "Tristana", "Viridiana" and his last one "Obscure object of desire". Rating : 7/10. Better than average. Indispensable and essential watching for Luis Buñuel aficionados.

Spanish director Luis Buñuel career spanned almost 50 years, from 1929 to 1977. Arguably, his best films were those he made during his exile in Mexico - from the late forties to the early 60s. There he had to deal with very cheap budgets, and work in an industry interested mainly in churning commercial movies to unsophisticated audiences, yet he somehow managed to make interesting, thought provoking movies that have stand the test of time. This movie is based on a novel by Spanish author Benito Perez Galdos - and the adaptation is quite faithful, even if the setting is now early 20th century Mexico instead of early 20th century Spain. The protagonist, Nazarin, is a priest who tries to live a life that is as faithful as it can be to the one prescribed by Christ. The question many would ask is whether such endeavor would be possible, without incurring in the hostility, incomprehension and mockery of your fellow human beings. As it happens, he suffers a lot of indignities, yet he remains stubborn (until the controversial final shot) to this objective. I think Buñuel wanted to show Nazarin as a somewhat ridiculous figure, but perhaps inadvertently, his stubbornness (at least to this viewer) comes out as admirable. In any case, a great film.

In a poor and backward community in Mexico, the Catholic Priest Nazario (Francisco Rabal) follows the Christian principles and lives a humble life without possessions in an old hostel owned by Chanfa (Ofelia Guilmáin) and used by prostitutes. When the prostitute Andara (Rita Macedo) kills he coworker Camilla that had stolen her buttons of shells, she is wounded and seeks shelter with the priest. Meanwhile, the disillusioned dweller of the hostel Beatriz (Marga López) is lured by her boyfriend Pinto (Noé Murayama) and tries to commit suicide. However, Chanfa convinces her to return to her village. When the police discover that Andara is hidden in the room of Nazario, she flees and Nazario undresses his cassock and wanders in the poor countryside, helping the destitute and begging for food. When Nazario reaches a very poor village, he meets Beatriz that is living with Andara and asks him to help a child that is very ill. Nazario prays for the child and on the next morning she is healed. Andara and Beatriz believe he is a saint and become his followers. Along their journey, Nazario and Andara are arrested and the priest is humiliated and beaten by common people and by the church.

"Nazarin" is an ironic criticism to the hypocrisy of church and society by Luis Buñuel. Francisco Rabal has an awesome performance in the role of a priest that lives in accordance with the principle of the catholic apostolic roman church and is betrayed, humiliated and hated by the people that he helps and by the church that he serves. One of my favorite sequences is when Nazario is protected by a criminal in jail and the man concludes that Nazario is a good man, he is a murderer and they are in the same place. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Nazarin"