KMC Forums - The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie Review

Directed by Luis Buñuel. Written by Luis Buñuel and Jean-Claude Carrière. Starring Fernando Rey, Delphine Seyrig, Bulle Ogier, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Stéphane Audran & Paul Frankeur.

The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, one of Buñuel’s funniest films, is at the heart of its loose narrative, about frustration. That following the narration is frustrating in itself is all part of its charm. Developed from an anecdote by producer Serge Silberman, and co-scripted with regular Jean-Claude Carrière, the film exhibits an air of gentle fun with an underlying satire of real bite.

Variations on a theme are quite common in comedies, especially sitcoms, but none so absurd as the theme found here. One interrupted dinner party after another is played out, as the relationship between the six friends of the party is interweaved between each arrangement. Abiding by their social rules under false pretence, the discreet charm of the title is only on the surface when they are all together, a façade compared to their separate lives.