The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie

Name: The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Comedy
Released: October 22, 1972
Duration: 102 min
Rating: 93
Cast: Delphine Seyrig, Fernando Rey

1972

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 12 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 71 Ratings

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8.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 71 Ratings

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The Discreet Charm Of The Bourgeoisie (US)

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Movie Details & Credits

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: October 22, 1972 | PG

Starring: Delphine Seyrig, Fernando Rey

Summary: A group of six friends - three men and three women decidedly of the French Upper Middle Class - have their dinner plans continually interrupted due to a series of bizarre events.

Director: Luis Buñuel

Genre(s): Drama, Fantasy, Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 102 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

TV Guide Magazine Frank Lovece

A brilliant surrealistic joke about a group of friends whose attempts to dine are continually thwarted. Read full review

100

Charles Taylor

This has to be one of the most completely realized comedies ever made, and, in its odd way, one of the most civilized. Read full review

100

Jay Carr

Slly, sublime, buoyant mischief that is virtually without parallel in 20th-century art, much less 20th-century film.

J. Hoberman

One of the best titles in movie history and a cast to match. Read full review

Ella Taylor

In the nearly 30 years since the movie was released (it won an Oscar for Best Foreign Film in 1972), one forgets how falling-about-funny is this mad caper. Read full review

Wesley Morris

If there's a granddaddy of breezy situationalism, it's probably Buñuel. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

It seems pompous and scattershot now -- a tweaking of privileged European smugness that unfolds with a playful daisy-chain logic but has the tone of a quaint, doddering lecture. Read full review

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User Reviews

PatrickB.

Sep 11, 2007

Incredible and unforgettable.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

enriquec

Jan 2, 2009

Beautiful, tough, strange but a masterpiece!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

ryancarroll88

Aug 27, 2010

Who thought having a dinner party could be so difficult? Still, Bunuel shows his genius in taking a simple and absurd plot to make harrowing criticisms of its characters: the rich, the political, the religious, the militant - pretty much everyone.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

MattF.

May 30, 2007

A really great surreal comedy piece. This one's in my collection. Far from toothless, this one fully realizes and imbricates I think Bunuel's earlier, strictly surreal movies with a farcical cynicism. Though his political/social attacks may seem less than profound or biting than A really great surreal comedy piece. This one's in my collection. Far from toothless, this one fully realizes and imbricates I think Bunuel's earlier, strictly surreal movies with a farcical cynicism. Though his political/social attacks may seem less than profound or biting than say "Belle de Jour," that is due to the satiric tone of "Bourgeoisie". It's like comparing Don Juan to, well, an equally sexually promiscuous character or novel without the silliness. Depends on the style you're going for. With that said, it's not my favorite Bunuel, nor is it my favorite surreal film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

adnan_soysal

Jul 14, 2021

I loved this movie.
Scenes, settings, dialogues are witty, simple and to the name, and theme of the movie.
It takes place in Paris. Movie is composed of real / surreal mix of a scenes where six people, three women, and three men, having a bourgeois life. Movie emphasizes their mannersI loved this movie.
Scenes, settings, dialogues are witty, simple and to the name, and theme of the movie.
It takes place in Paris.
Movie is composed of real / surreal mix of a scenes where six people, three women, and three men, having a bourgeois life.
Movie emphasizes their manners mostly at dinner scenes or in cafes.
They all act in a discreet way even in most abnormal conditions.
In one scene it reveals their view of society that they believe society is composed of herds yet they are entitled to live like aristocrats and they will deal with the herd in a politicly correct way.

Movie has political context like Maoist terrorist, drug trafficking at state level, human rights abuse accusations linked to one of the six, who is Ambassador a fictional South American Country.
Movie also displays on the surface, bourgeois manners look cool, but underneath it is as raw as the herd they de taste .
And this hypocrisy, fakeness hit them in their dreams. Six actors playing the bourgeois were all so natural reflecting the mood of people of bourgeois.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

BruceH.

Aug 12, 2007

As usual, I read no reviews on this film prior to watching it, relying instead on its high critical marks for my decision to watch it. I think in this case that was a mistake. I enjoyed Discreet Charm

0 of 0 users found this helpful

JanineM

Oct 1, 2007

Annoying and not funny. I kept waiting for it to build to something but it was all in vain. Notice how some big reviewers are missing from the Critic's reviews (New York Times, Chicago Tribune) I hope they will review this movie and send this stinker down a few notches into its rightful place.

0 of 3 users found this helpful

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