I know I am late in chiming in but I would have thought SOMEONE out there was a big enough fan of his work to post something....
The only film of Luis' that I have seen is The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie. I bought the DVD a couple of months ago on a complete whim. No rhymes, reasons, reviews, I just thought it sounded interesting.
Nonetheless, I have mixed feelings towards it. As a satire, it is downright hilarious. The characters in it are entertaining in to how they choose to hide things about themselves, and how entirely oblivious they are to the surrounding environment and their comrades.
The plot is near impossible to be summed up but on face value it is about a group of people who are trying to eat. Yes, that's it. Something that you and I can do every day. These are people who can mix a fine Martini and point out how barbaric their limo driver drinks it, but they can't get their heads out of their own ass long enough to schedule a damned meal.
There is much of the surreal in this film, especially as it progresses forth but in a film like this it seemed distracting, or interesting on a purely visual level and not so much as a logical one. When used as a satire it works for me. Especially the war politics talked about and the drug use of the troops. This made for a very funny stab at the Vietnam era American troops. However, I may not be in the loop with the political stabs of France and Spain because I am not very elightened to their social climate at that time. So some of the film falls flat for me.
I certainly don't regret purchasing it. I found it entertaining and will revisit it again in the future. That may see wether I gain something or not out of it
