My latest Luis Bunuel film is one I've actually seen several times: his 1967 masterpiece Belle de Jour. As I've stated previously, I go back and forth on Bunuel, but Belle de Jour is a film I've always liked, and tend to like more upon every new viewing. Catherine Deneuve plays Severine, a bored and sexually frustrated or frigid wealthy woman, who has elaborate sadomasochistic fantasies. At times it's difficult to tell what's reality and what are her fantasies, especially at the end, which can be read different ways. She grows bored and begins working at a brothel in the afternoon, which opens her up sexually, but also leads to disaster (if that's not simply another fantasy). This time the scene that jumped out at me was her killing time in between tricks. Another prostitute is working on a crossword puzzle, and asks, "Carries his father, six letters?" The well-educated Severine replies, "Aeneas, A-E-N-E-A-S." The other woman replies that it makes sense, since the third letter is an N, causing Severine to have a pained expression at the ignorance of her friend, although they are both working at a brothel. It instantly found its way into my book on the Epics. Recommended - that is, Belle de Jour, and not by book, although it would be nice if you bought it if it's ever published.
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