Simon of the Desert

UPC: 715515042017

Studio: Criterion

MPAA Rating: NR   Contains:[Nudity, Adult Situations, Suitable for Children]

Summary: Forty minutes is more than enough screen time for Spanish director Luis Bu?uel to state his case in Simon of the Desert. Claudio Brook portrays fifth-century Christian Simon (later St. Simon Stylites) who dispenses religious sagacity while standing on a tall column in the middle of the desert. Typical of Bu?uel's hatred of the Church, the Devil (Silvia Pinal) is a far more entertaining and articulate spokesperson for his point of view than Simon is for Christianity. An abrupt, ill-suited ending suggests that Bu?uel either tired of the subject and wanted to move on to other things, or that he ran out of money and had to wrap before the process servers showed up. This Mexican film was originally titled Simon del Desierto. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Category: Comedy

Awards: Special Jury Prize – Venice International Film Festival

Features: A Mexican Bu?uel (1997),a 56 minute documentary by Emilio Maill?
New interview with actress Silvia Pinal
A Booklet featuring a new essay by critic Michael Wood and a 1970s interview with Luis Bu?uel

Simon of the Desert

Format: DVD

Release Date: 02/10/2009

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Pre-1954 Standard

Audio: DD1 Dolby Digital Mono

Runtime: 45 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) Spanish

Subtitles: English

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Disc #1 -- Simon of the Desert
1. New Column [8:09]
2. Temptation [2:31]
3. Corporeal Concerns [4:08]
4. Innocent [5:31]
5. Satan [6:55]
6. Earthly Pleasure [5:24]
7. Blessings [5:59]
8. Journey [6:50]
9. Color Bars [:00]
1. Beginnings [5:52]
2. First Films In Mexico [4:58]
3. Los Olvidados [14:49]
4. Black Comedy [7:06]
5. Collaborators [2:53]
6. Religion [4:37]
7. Working With Actors [4:14]
8. Simon of the Desert [3:17]
9. "Luis is Everything" [7:51]

Cast and Crew: Luis Buñuel  Director 
Luis Buñuel  Screenwriter 
Raúl Lavista  Composer (Music Score) 
Gustavo Alatriste  Producer 
Claudio Brook  Actor 
Silvia Pinal  Actor 
Hortensia Santovena  Actor 
Enrique Alvarez Felix  Actor 

Country: Mexico