THE EXTERMINATING ANGEL Movie Review

El Angel Exterminador

“Basically,” wrote Luis Buñuel in his autobiography, “I simply see a group of people who couldn't do what they wanted to—leave a room.” He was describing the basis of this hilarious and terrifying 1962 masterwork, filmed in Mexico on a modest budget. Nobile (Enrique Rambal) has invited guests to his splendid home for dinner, and though the cooks have managed to flee, the guests just can't seem to tear themselves away after dinner. It's not that they don't want to, mind you, they just … can't. They stay. The days go on and on, accompanied by madness, suicide, disease, hunger, an attempted military rescue, and an invasion of sheep. The situation is ultimately resolved, though it's inevitably replaced by one even more ominous. While Buñuel has said of The Exterminating Angel that “there is no explanation” the great surrealist has also said more: “it is a deeply felt, disturbing reflection of the life of modern man,” he has written, but his latter statement in no way conflicts with his former. No one in his right mind would attempt to literally interpret each image and dilemma in The Exterminating Angel, but we understand after watching it—and examining where we are in our own lives in relation to our desires—that it all makes perfect sense. Even the sheep.

NEXT STOP … Simon of the Desert, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, Woman in the Dunes

1962 95m/B MX SP Claudio Brook, Cesar del Campo, Lucy Gallardo, Enrique Garcia Alvarez, Tito Junco, Ofelia Montesco, Bertha Moss, Pancho Cordova, Silvia Pinal, Enrique Rambal, Jacqueline Andere, Jose Baviera, Augusto Benedico, Luis Beristain; D: Luis Bunuel; W: Luis Alcoriza, Luis Bunuel; C: Gabriel Figueroa; M: Raul Lavista, Domenico Scarletti. VHS HTV, FCT