The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
As part of the FASMA 2026 program, audiences are invited to experience The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, one of the defining masterpieces of legendary filmmaker Luis Buñuel. Winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, this celebrated classic masterfully blends surrealist comedy with incisive social satire, exposing the rituals, illusions, and contradictions of the upper class.
The story follows a group of sophisticated bourgeois friends who repeatedly attempt to enjoy a shared meal, only to have each gathering interrupted by increasingly bizarre and inexplicable events. As dreams, fantasies, and reality seamlessly intertwine, certainty dissolves and the ordinary gives way to the extraordinary.
A Timeless Surrealist Masterpiece
With his unmistakable cinematic style, Buñuel creates a world inhabited by diplomats, military officers, clergy, and eccentric figures whose interactions gently dismantle the conventions of privilege, etiquette, and social order. Deadpan humor and surreal situations reveal the absurdity hidden beneath seemingly respectable appearances.
Through recurring scenes, unexpected shifts in reality, and a playful rejection of conventional storytelling, the film explores enduring themes of class, desire, religion, and power, inviting audiences to question the structures that shape modern society.
What You Will Discover
- One of Luis Buñuel's most celebrated and influential films.
- A brilliant fusion of surrealism, comedy, and social criticism.
- A narrative where dreams and reality constantly blur together.
- A thought-provoking exploration of class, religion, desire, and power.
- An Academy Award-winning classic renowned for its originality, wit, and lasting cultural impact.
More than five decades after its release, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie remains one of world cinema's most inventive and enduring achievements. Clever, provocative, and endlessly entertaining, it continues to captivate audiences with its unique vision and timeless relevance.
Country: France
Director: Luis Buñuel
Running Time: 1 hour 42 minutes
Language: French with English subtitles.
