Simon of the Desert is a film directed by Luis Bunuel. What makes this 45 minute film remarkable is its juxtaposition of religious asceticism to pop culture of the mid-60s.
The film begins with St. Simon Stylites having been devoted to God from atop a column in the desert for exactly six years, six weeks, and six days before being asked to move to another column placed especially for him by admirers of his steadfast faith. When he moves to the top of the new column, he is tempted by the devil in different guises. At a certain point, Simon gives in and the film ends up in a hip club (presumably the mid-60s).
The anachronistic turn has sparked a considerable amount of criticism on Bunuel's view of religion (specifically Catholicism). What is too often missed, however, is the reflexivity of the juxtaposition: simply, here is the ascetic's life and here is a life given over to pop culture.
The central issue of the film revolves around this simplicity, not Bunuel's religious or political views exclusively. To watch the film appreciatively, one has to accept the terms Bunuel has set forth. Here is what it means to be religious, and here is what it means to be given over to our culture. The question of the movie is how do they relate?
A feeble interpretation is that Bunuel has merely criticized religion or culture exclusively. After all, they are both present in the film. What seems to work about the ending is not that we have gone from Simon's world to modern culture and that is where we are today (abruptly broken away from the ghost of religion past). It is the fact that the transition is one we see everyday: that it is possible for a modern person to go from a place of devoted sincerity to a carefree "letting go," in the very next moment.
IMDb rates this film 8.0 out of 10
Film 101 rates this film 3.5 stars out of 5
A selection of other films directed by Luis Bunuel:
Viridiana, The Exterminating Angel, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, and That Obscure Object of Desire
A feeble interpretation is that Bunuel has merely criticized religion or culture exclusively. After all, they are both present in the film. What seems to work about the ending is not that we have gone from Simon's world to modern culture and that is where we are today (abruptly broken away from the ghost of religion past). It is the fact that the transition is one we see everyday: that it is possible for a modern person to go from a place of devoted sincerity to a carefree "letting go," in the very next moment.
IMDb rates this film 8.0 out of 10
Film 101 rates this film 3.5 stars out of 5
A selection of other films directed by Luis Bunuel:
Viridiana, The Exterminating Angel, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, and That Obscure Object of Desire
