Although Luis Bunuel, one of the great filmmakers of the century, was notoriously reluctant to discuss his own work in public, he wrote - and wrote well - on many subjects over the years. This collection proceeds chronologically, from poetry and short stories written in Bunuel's youth in Spain to an essay written in 1980, not long before his death. Newly translated into English, the writings offer startling insights into the filmmaker's life and thought. The earliest pieces came well before Bunuel joined the Surrealist movement in Paris and created the landmark film Un chien andalou with Salvador Dali.Yet these and the early Surrealist writings reveal the inventiveness of the mind that would later create such masterpieces of cinema as "L'Age d'or", "Los olvidados", "Viridiana", "The Milky Way", "The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie", and "That Obscure Object of Desire". Later writings, which include screenplays and reflections on his own and others' films, illuminate many aspects of Bunuel's career, as well as the ways of thinking and perceiving that underlie his unique cinematic style. The final essay by this extraordinary artist sums up his view of the world - still vibrant and full of contradictions - at the end of his life.

About the Author
Luis Bunuel (1900-1983) is regarded as one of the most accomplished directors in the history of cinema. His celebrated collaboration with Dali in 1928 was followed by a career as a filmmaker that spanned fifty years. Garrett White is a translator and film and art journalist. He translated and wrote the introduction for Blaise Cendrars's Hollywood: Mecca of the Movies (California, 1995).

Reviews
"In this collection, Bunuel eloquently proves to be an intellectual and an ideologue and a jokester as well." -Publishers Weekly; "This book will be treasured by anyone who cares about cinema."-Sunday Tribune (Dublin); "A lovely, startling grab bag of jokes, insights, recollected dreams, superbly grave mini-essays, and general bits and pieces retrieved from Bunuel's life."-Artforum's Bookforum; "Bunuel is a filmmaker I have been stylistically haunted and influenced by for a very long time. After reading this collection of essays, some of which have never been published before, I am even more enthralled by this man. He remains my favorite voice of the surrealists."-Gus Van Sant; "This lively and diverse selection of Bunuel's literary work should provide the American reader with a much greater understanding of the man and his work, and with hours of enjoyment as well."-Julie Jones, University of New Orleans; "Bunuel didn't like to put words on paper, but thankfully he did, revealing the sly, shy, quirky, passionate, unpredictable genius whose superbly subversive films were everything but shy. This trove of reluctant writings is a rare and historical treat."-Charles Champlin, retired arts editor, Los Angeles Times



Book Information
ISBN 9780520234239
Author Luis Bunuel
Format Paperback
Page Count 277
Imprint University of California Press
Publisher University of California Press
Weight(grams) 408g
Dimensions(mm) 210mm * 140mm * 20mm