Cultural Voice

Luis Buñuel’s iconic and internationally acclaimed film “Viridiana”, winner of the Palme d’Or at the 1961 Cannes Film Festival, the first of four films to be presented to invited guests, was compelling. It demonstrated that what would now be considered a shoe string budget can produce an excellent film. Congratulations to the Ambassadors of Mexico and Spain H.E. Gerardo Lozano and H.E. Celsa Nuño for the collaboration. The movie questioned faith versus fate, with strong religious undertones and overtones adding complexity and tension to Viridiana ’s story. The story of an orphaned young girl who grew up in the convent, neglected by her only living relative her rich uncle and who at the point where she is ready to take her vows, is forced by the Holy Mother superior to visit with her uncle before taking the pledge.  Her uncle finds that she reminds him of his deceased wife, and drugs her, in an attempt to keep her in his unhappy home. Viridiana insists on leaving and on her