Film Still

The Milky Way

Luis Buñuel

France

1969

101 minutes

Color

1.66:1

French

402

Synopsis

The first of what Luis Buñuel later proclaimed a trilogy (along with The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie and The Phantom of Liberty) about “the search for truth,” The Milky Way (La voie lactee) daringly deconstructs contemporary and traditional views on Catholicism with ribald, rambunctious surreality. Two French beggars, present-day pilgrims en route to Spain’s holy city of Santiago de Compostela, serve as Buñuel’s narrators for an anticlerical history of heresy, told with absurdity and filled with images that rank among Buñuel’s most memorable (stigmatic children, crucified nuns) and hilarious (Jesus considering a good shave). A diabolically entertaining look at the mysteries of fanaticism, The Milky Way remains a hotly debated work from cinema’s greatest skeptic.

Cast

PierrePaul Frankeur
JeanLaurent Terzieff
JesusBernard Verley
The Virgin MaryEdith Scob
Mother SuperiorMuni
Richard- "maitre d'hotel"Julien Bertheau
French priestFrancois Maistre
Man with capeAlain Cuny
Marquis de SadeMichel Piccoli
The devilPierre Clementi
The JansenistJean Piat
The prostituteDelphine Seyrig
PriscillianJean-Claude Carrière

Credits

DirectorLuis Buñuel
ScreenplayLuis Buñuel and Jean-Claude Carrière
ProducerSerge Silberman
CinematographyChristian Matras
EditingLouisette Hautecoeur
Production DesignPierre Guffroy
Costume designJacqueline Guvot

Disc Features

  • New, restored high-definition digital transfer
  • Video introduction by screenwriter Jean-Claude Carrière
  • New video interview with film scholar Ian Christie
  • Luis Bunuel: Atheist Thanks to God, a documentary featuring several of Bunuel’s close friends and collaborators
  • New and improved English subtitle translation
  • Original theatrical trailer
  • PLUS: A booklet featuring new essays by Carlos Fuentes and Mark Polizzotti, and an interview with Luis Bunuel

From the Current

The Milky Way: The Heretic’s Progress

by Carlos Fuentes Aug 20, 2007

In the mid-sixties, Luis Buñuel became fascinated by the youth rebellion that culminated with the events of May 1968 in Paris and also manifested itself in music, fashion, opposition to institutions, family, and state. Buñuel felt that the forces of his own youth were moving again. As a young man...

The Milky Way: Easy Striders

by Mark Polizzotti Aug 20, 2007

From the moment Luis Buñuel released his iconic Un chien andalou in 1929, ushering avant-garde cinema out of its infancy with the slice of an eyeball, it was clear how much he relished shocking his audiences. But audiences had changed by the time of The Milky Way, four decades later...

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Available Editions

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DVD

1 Disc

SRP: $29.95

Criterion Store price

$23.96