Plot Summary
Banned in Spain and denounced by the Vatican, Luis Buñuel’s irreverent vision of life as a beggar’s banquet is regarded by many as his masterpiece. In it, novice nun Viridiana does her utmost to maintain her Catholic principles, but her lecherous uncle and a motley assemblage of paupers force her to confront the limits of her idealism. Winner of the Palme d’or at the 1961 Cannes Film Festival, Viridiana is as audacious today as ever.
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Screenwriters
Rotten Tomatoes Movie Reviews
TOMATOMETER
100%- Reviews Counted: 20
- Fresh: 20
- Rotten: 0
- Average Rating: 8.9/10
Top Critics' Reviews
Fresh: Whether Senor Bunuel means his picture as a reflection of all people or just the people of Spain is not clear nor, indeed, is it essential. It is an ugly, depressing view of life. And, to be frank about it, it is a little old-fashioned, too.
Fresh: Luis Bunuel returned to his native Spain to create this 1961 masterpiece, which marked his rebirth as a filmmaker of international repute.
Fresh: For Luis Bunuel, impiety is a genetic trait and an essential facet of his art. That his work also lifts the spirit -- imparting a delirious sensation of the divine-is a most welcome incongruity, one exemplified by his prizewinning 1961 effort, Viridiana.
Fresh: More than 40 years after its original release, Viridiana remains one of the most shocking films ever made.
