MIM Movie Review

This is an archive of the former website of the Maoist Internationalist Movement, which was run by the now defunct Maoist Internationalist Party - Amerika. The MIM now consists of many independent cells, many of which have their own indendendent organs both online and off. MIM(Prisons) serves these documents as a service to and reference for the anti-imperialist movement worldwide.

"The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie"
Directed by Luis Bunuel
100 minutes, 1972

Winner of the Academy Award for best foreign film in 1972, this film has earned praise as one of the best 
films of all time.  On the other hand, for some people, like other artsy and intellectual films, this film will 
seem to lack action and satisfaction,  because it depends on character development and thought about social 
and political matters.

The main characters include diplomats who make a fortune as drug dealers making use of their diplomatic
immunity from prosecution. This does not stop them from denouncing drug-dealers and lower classes in 
their dinner and drinking parties, which is what this movie is about--one long look at the social life of 
a few members of the bourgeoisie.

A "terrorist" shows up saying something about Mao Zedong, but it's as surreal as the rest of the film. The 
effect is probably anarchist if not boredom for those who have to have action plots.

We do give this film a mild thumbs up, because the rest of what Amerikkkans will pick up at the video 
store is so poor. "Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie" is certainly progressive by comparison.