Nazarin - A 1959 Film Directed by Luis Buñuel- 94 Minutes

 Available on YouTube with English Subtitles 

Earlier this month I watched my first film directed Luis Buñuel, 

Los Olvidados - The Young and The Dammed.  Similar to this movie, Nazarin is powerful vision of life among Mexico's poorest citizens, especially the women, focusing on a priest.

Nazarín is a 1959 Mexican  drama film directed by Luis Buñuel and co-written between Buñuel and Julio Alejandro, adapted from the eponymous novel of Benito Pérez Galdós. It tells the story of Padre Nazario, a Catholic priest who lives in a poor hostel in the Mexican countryside. He is a kind and compassionate man, but his beliefs and practices are often met with hostility and ridicule.

The film is a powerful indictment of the hypocrisy of organized religion and the ways in which it is often used to oppress the poor and vulnerable. Nazario is a Christ-like figure who is persecuted for his beliefs. He is eventually driven out of town and forced to live a life of poverty and exile.

The film is also a meditation on the nature of faith and the challenges of living a truly Christian life. Nazario is a man of deep faith, but he is also a flawed human being. He makes mistakes and is often tempted by the world around him. However, he never gives up on his beliefs, even when they lead him to suffering.

Nazarín was a critical and commercial success. It was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 1959 Cannes Film Festival, and it won the International Prize. The film has been praised for its social commentary, its exploration of faith, and its visual style.

The film was controversial in Mexico at the time of its release. The Catholic Church was critical of the film's portrayal of religion, and the government was concerned about its political implications. However, the film was also a commercial success, and it helped to establish Buñuel as a major director in Mexico.

Nazarín is considered to be one of Buñuel's greatest films

Mel Ulm