That Obscure Object of Desire
1977 · Movie · R · 103 min · ★ 7.5 · 91% critics
A wealthy man tells passengers on a train about his tumultuous pursuit of a young flamenco dancer, after a shocking start that leaves a bitter impression. Their relationship unfolds as a mix of cruelty, deception, and desire, playing out through an uneasy, story-within-a-story framework that questions what love really means.
Based on The Woman and the Puppet
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Details
- Original title
- Cet obscur objet du désir
- Years
- 1977
- Release date
- 1977-08-17
- Language
- French
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 103 min
- Critic score
- 91/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.5/10 (443 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this surreal, stylish relationship tale if you like Luis Buñuel’s provocative mix of dark humor and obsession; Not for you if you want a straightforward romance or clear answers, or if you dislike films like Belle de Jour and The Phantom of Liberty.
Pros: stylish surreal storytelling; compelling relationship tension; witty trainframe setup | Cons: divisive dialogue; confusing dual-role choice; discomforting themes
Themes
- paris, france
- bomb
- parent child relationship
- mistake in person
- bucket
- lausanne, switzerland
- love
- train
- maid
- humiliation
- seville, spain
Awards & recognition
- Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award — Best Foreign Language Film · 1977
- National Board of Review Award — Best Director · 1977
- National Board of Review Award — Best Foreign Language Film · 1977
- National Society of Film Critics Award — Best Director · 1977
- Academy Award — Best International Feature Film · 1978 · nominated
Show all 13 awards →
- Academy Award — Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay · 1978 · nominated
- César Award — Best Director · 1978 · nominated
- César Award — Best Original Screenplay or Adaptation · 1978 · nominated
- International Submission to the Academy Awards · 1978 · nominated
- Golden Globe Award — Best Non-English Language Film · 1977 · nominated
- National Society of Film Critics Award — Best Film · 1977 · nominated
- National Society of Film Critics Award — Best Actor · 1977 · nominated
- National Society of Film Critics Award — Best Director · 1977 · nominated
Cast & crew
Fernando Rey
as Mathieu Faber
Carole Bouquet
as Conchita
Ángela Molina
as Conchita
Julien Bertheau
as Édouard
André Weber
as Martin
Milena Vukotić
as Mother on the Train
María Asquerino
as Encarnación, Conchita's Mother
Ellen Bahl
as Manolita
- VB
Valerie Blanco
as Isabelle
- AC
Auguste Carrière
as Woman who Mending at the Window
Directed by Luis Buñuel