Review for Susana

Cripes! This lovely looking movie, heralding from Bunuel's 'Mexican Period' (i.e. his commercial period when needing the money was clearly influencing the art) still manages to sneak in a whole bunch of classic 'Buneulisms', despite neatly disguising itself a soap-operatic melodrama.


'Susana' was actually a re-make of a film much-admired by Bunuel (Alexander Kordas's 1929 movie, 'The Squall'). It's the tale of a no-good, manipulative seductress who escapes from prison (after praying to the big man and then finding her cell window is loose) and finds herself at the home of Don Guadalupe (Soler), a kindly middle-aged gentleman and his family who seem to live an idyllic rural life.


Susana persuades Dona Carmen (Palou) that she is in great danger having been abused by her family. The kindly old woman agrees to take her in, almost like her own daughter. But of course, this is no happy ending. Susana is a beauty and soon turns the heads of all the men in and around the household, from farm-hands (Jesus), to the master's son (Alberto) and even the master of the house himself (Guadalupe).


But being a manipulative sort, she does whatever she can to her own advantage. When Jesus discovers her origins, she sets out to destroy his good reputation - and doesn't stop there. It's not long before she has seduced the gullible young son and the silly old man, who should really know better but who cannot help himself falling for her 'innocent charms'.


There's a particularly Bunuelesque scene where we see him polishing his 'erect' rifle with a frustrated look whilst in her presence. It may have got past the innocent board of the day but would be picked up now by even the most junior GSCE film studies student. Often times, we see Susana drop to her knees in front of male counterparts who caress her head at loin level - more Bunuel styled sexual tension getting past the naïve censors.


For the most part, 'Susana' is a pot-boiler drama, showing tragedy through temptation and providing classic melodramatic kicks to viewers looking for emotional escapism. But there is much more than this to enjoy. The cinematography if first-class with Susana (Rosita Quintana) often looking breath-takingly desirable .


The print is adequate with a few signs of wear (this is not as good as 'The Brute' in this regard) but for the most part is fine.

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