That Obscure Object of Desire
1977
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Synopsis
After dumping a bucket of water on a beautiful young woman from the window of a train car, wealthy Frenchman Mathieu, regales his fellow passengers with the story of the dysfunctional relationship between himself and the young woman in question, a fiery 19-year-old flamenco dancer named Conchita. What follows is a tale of cruelty, depravity and lies -- the very building blocks of love.
Key facts
Cast
André Weber, Julien Bertheau, Angela Molina, Fernando Rey, Milena Vukotic, Carole Bouquet, María Asquerino, Ellen Bahl
Original language
Spanish
First release
August 17, 1977 (Finland)
Production companies
FILMS GALAXIE, GREENWICH FILM PRODUCTIONS, IN-CINE COMPAÑÍA INDUSTRIAL CINEMATOGRÁFICA S.A.
Home video distributors
Embassy Home Entertainment (United States)
Based on
The Woman and the Puppet
Awards
National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Director, National Board of Review Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Foreign Language Film, National Board of Review Award for Best Director
Setting
Paris
Filming locations
Lausanne, Paris, Madrid, Switzerland
Crew
Screenplay
Luis Buñuel, Pierre Louÿs, Jean-Claude Carrière
Producer
Serge Silberman
Cinematography
Edmond Richard
Editing
Hélène Plemiannikov
Trailer
Stills
Reviews
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Festival History
Titles
| Original title | Cet obscur objet du désir | French |
| Translated title | That Obscure Object of Desire | English, Québec |
| Alternate title | This Obscure Object of Desire | |
| Alternate title | Ese oscuro objeto de deseo |
VHS & home video releases
| VHS | Embassy Home Entertainment (cat. no. 6121) | 1986, United States, slipcase |
Releases & classifications
| Theatrical | Finland | August 17, 1977 |
| Theatrical | France | August 17, 1977 |
| Theatrical | Sweden | August 17, 1977 |
| Theatrical | United States | October 8, 1977 |
| Theatrical | Italy | November 25, 1977 |
| Theatrical | Spain | March 1, 1978 |
| Theatrical | Germany | November 16, 1978 |
| Theatrical | Japan | November 3, 1984 |
| Theatrical | South Korea | March 27, 1999 |
| Television | France | June 7, 2026 |
| Classification | Germany | 16 |
| Classification | United States | R |
Versions & editions
| Original version (French) | ||
| Home video | Denmark | August 17, 1977 |
| Home video VHS | United States | 1986 6121 |
| Home video | Netherlands | September 17, 2009 |
Full credits
| Director | Luis Buñuel |
| Cast | André Weber, Julien Bertheau, Angela Molina, Fernando Rey, Milena Vukotic, Carole Bouquet, María Asquerino (Encarnación, Conchita's Mother), Ellen Bahl (Manolita), Valerie Blanco (Isabelle), Auguste Carrière (Woman who Mending at the Window), Jacques Debary (Judge on the Train), Antonio Duque (Driver), André Lacombe (Doorman), Lita Lluch-Peiro (Dancer), Annie Monange (Cabaret Employee), Jean-Claude Montalban (Waiter in the Bar), Muni (Concierge), Bernard Musson (Deporting Policeman), Piéral (Psychology Teacher), Isabelle Rattier (Secretary), David Rocha (El Morenito), Isabelle Sadoyan (Jadiner), Juan Santamaría (Travel Agency Employee), Mario David ((uncredited)), Agnès Gattegno ((uncredited)), Silke Humel ((uncredited)), Roger Ibáñez ((uncredited)), Richard Leduc ((uncredited)), Guy Montagné ((uncredited)), Justo Ruiz (Sect's Member (uncredited)), Michel Piccoli (Mathieu Faber (voice) (uncredited)) |
| Screenplay | Luis Buñuel, Pierre Louÿs, Jean-Claude Carrière |
| Producer | Serge Silberman |
| Cinematography | Edmond Richard |
| Editing | Hélène Plemiannikov |
| Production design | Claude Moesching, Pierre Guffroy |
| Visual effects | François Suné |
| Sound | Guy Villette |
| Costumes | Sylvie de Segonzac |
Additional data: TMDB.
Source: Cinémathèque québécoise, linked catalogue data (CC BY 4.0)
