The Milky Way (Criterion Collection)

The Milky Way (Criterion Collection)
by Julien Gaurichon, Luis Bu?uel

The Milky Way (Criterion Collection)

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DVD Cover Information

Actor: Alain Cuny, Bernard Verley, Edith Scob, Laurent Terzieff, Paul Frankeur
Director: Julien Gaurichon, Luis Bu?uel
Brand: IMAGE ENT.
Writer: Luis Bu?uel
Producer: Jean-St?phane Michaux
Producer: Jenny Orru
Producer: L?o Campagne
Producer: Serge Silberman
Writer: Jean-Claude Carri?re
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: French (Original Language); Italian (Original Language); Latin (Original Language)
Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.66:1
Running Time: 101 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-08-21
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Criterion
Product features:

The first of what Luis Bunuel later proclaimed a trilogy (along with The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie and The Phantom of Liberty) about "the search for truth," The Milky Way (La voie lactee) daringly deconstructs contemporary and traditional views on Catholicism with ribald, rambunctious surreality. Two French beggars, present-day pilgrims en route to Spain's holy city of Santiago

Movie Reviews of The Milky Way (Criterion Collection)

Movie Review: freed from the conventions of context
Summary: 5 Stars

The Milky Way is often described as the first in a modernist French trilogy, the other films being The Discreet Charm Of The Bourgeoisie - Criterion Collection and The Phantom of Liberty. This is an historical period that begins in radicalism and hope, then devolves into terrorism and fear. Of course, for the Spaniard Luis Bunuel, a more important context would be the emergence of the greater Spanish world from obscurantism and Francoism. For Bunuel in film (as for Juan Goytisolo in letters -- see Forbidden Territory and Realms of Strife: The Memoirs of Juan Goytisolo), the revolutionary turmoil of 1968 plays out as a dim echo of the violent chaos of the Spanish Republic.

In The Milky Way Bunuel wishes to escape the conventions of historical context. Our two pilgrims Pierre and Jean travel directly from Paris to Santiago de Compestella, but their direct route passes through numerous centuries. Even the identity of the pilgrims remains a mystery. The older of the two (played by Paul Frankeur) appears to be the 59 year old son of the Virgin Mary, yet he is told to be silent when he attempts to interject himself into a religious discussion where the nature of the host is being discussed. Whether or not he is Jesus -- or, rather, whether or not he is now Jesus -- Jesus makes his own appearances throughout the film.

We also need to understand the movie on the terms Bunuel gives us, and he is the first to emphasize that most of the dialog is verbatim commentary on Catholic dogma, what is True and what is Anathema. Whatever one thinks about the messy thrust and parry of the various schools, the reality of the Virgin, of Jesus, etc., is no less assured than that of our two pilgrims (notwithstanding that one of them may be Jesus). But there is dogma, and there is dogma.

The 'youth rebellion' of the 1960s occurs within the context of Cold War intellectual debate over capitalism and communism, over what is revolutionary and what is revisionist, what is True and what is Anathema. Bunuel gives this away when, during a presentation of Catholic doctrine at a girl's school picnic, the younger pilgrim (played by Laurent Terzieff) finds his mind pondering the execution of a pope in the name of Revolutionary Truth.

Bunuel followed this movie in short order with his modern Spanish classic Tristana [VHS] before returning to his 'trilogy' (if that is what it is). I used to think Discreet Charm was Bunuel's best film, but The Milky Way has shaken my conviction. The film is beautiful both to hear and to watch. Please discover this film.

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Summary of The Milky Way (Criterion Collection)

The first of what Luis Bu?uel later proclaimed a trilogy (along with The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie and The Phantom of Liberty) about "the search for truth," The Milky Way (La voie lact?e) daringly deconstructs contemporary and traditional views on Catholicism with ribald, rambunctious surreality. Two French beggars, present-day pilgrims en route to Spain's holy city of Santiago de Compostela, serve as Bu?uel's narrators for an anticlerical history of heresy, told with absurdity and filled with images that rank among Bu?uel's most memorable (stigmatic children, crucified nuns) and hilarious (Jesus considering a good shave). A diabolically entertaining look at the mysteries of fanaticism, The Milky Way remains a hotly debated work from cinema's greatest skeptic.

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