Luis Bunuel's 1953 paranoia classic ÉL with an intro by local writer/film critic Naser Mojtahed!
Schedule
Sat Aug 23 2025 at 01:00 pm to 02:55 pm
UTC-06:00Location
3405 Central Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM, United States, New Mexico 87106 | Albuquerque, NM
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Aug 23 & 24Sat and Sun 1:00pm only!
3405 Central Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM, United States, New Mexico 87106
Dir. Luis Buñuel - 1953 - 93m - Mexico - In Spanish with English subtitles - Valid for Punch Cards
BONUS! SPECIAL INTRO BY LOCAL WRITER & FILM CRITIC NASER MOJTAHED FOR BOTH SCREENINGS!
Among the strangest and most perturbing films of his overlooked Mexican period, Él is Luis Buñuel’s incisive portrait of paranoia, jealousy, and sexual obsession—a nightmarish tale of love gone wrong that prefigures the major themes of his 1960s and ’70s work. Incorporating his personal demons into an adaptation of Mercedes Pinto’s autobiographical novel, Buñuel tells the story of Francisco Galván de Montemayor (Arturo de Córdova), a devout middle-aged bachelor who falls into amour fou with Gloria (Delia Garcés). After breaking her engagement with another man, Gloria realizes something is terribly off about Francisco, whose sophisticated facade masks deep insecurities and an explosive, violent temper. Descending into madness, Francisco drives Gloria to fear for her life—with no refuge offered by either her family or the church. One of Buñuel’s rawest, angriest indictments of religious and social hypocrisy, Él stands as the surrealist master’s great excursion into dark melodrama, where civilization can find no answer to the raging urges of the irrational id.
This 4K restoration was scanned from a dupe positive preserved by Películas y Vídeos Internacionales at the Filmoteca de la UNAM. Color grading was supervised by Gabriel Figueroa Flores. The restoration work was completed at L’Immagine Ritrovata in 2022. The Film Foundation extends special thanks to Guillermo del Toro and Daniela Michel.
"Released at the pinnacle of his prolific Mexican period, Él (This Strange Passion) remains one of Buñuel's crowning achievements." - Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine
"Boasts an exceptionally fine cast, excellent direction and all-around good production values. But, more important, it has a sound story line." - Marie Mesmer, Illustrated Daily News (Los Angeles)
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Where is it happening?
3405 Central Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM, United States, New Mexico 87106Event Location & Nearby Stays:
