The Brute (1952)

Bunuel's overlooked neorealist melodrama deals with a corrupt landlord in search of a thug to intimidate his restless tenants. El Bruto played by Pedro Armendariz is a thick-headed slaughterhouse worker loyal to the exploiters. Bruto is lusted after by his employer's frustrated wife and at the same time longs for an innocent girl whose father he unfortunately beat to death. Filmed during Bunuel's exile in Mexico El Bruto is part of "a series of unique and expertly crafted films on low budgets and short production schedules" (David A. Cook A History of Narrative Film). Features the bold black-and-white cinematography of Agustin Jimenez. In Spanish with English subtitles.System Requirements:Running Time; 83 mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: FOREIGN/MEXICAN UPC: 736899112622 Manufacturer No: DV95093 Product Description

A fine Bunuel movie from his Mexican period

El Bruto is a strange movie about.. well a brute, a tough guy who is hired to do the dirty work for a tyrannical landlord who is trying to get rid of his impoverished tenants.. But as events unfold the movie takes some ironic plot twists... Punctuated with moments of comedy mainly from the father of the slumlord, El Bruto is a strange and beautiful early film of don luis... It is beautiful in its simplicity and in its photography.. and its story is unconventional and unique..
The quality of the dvd itself was better than i expected.. just don't expect any extras and you will be fine with the more than acceptable print of the film - at least in my eyes.. February 12, 2008

Beware Defective Disks

I purchased this film twice and received defective disks both times. Beware Cinemateca products. January 16, 2008

Another fine jewel film from Don Luis!

The well known sojourn of Bunuel in Mexico has been unfairly regarded for most audiences: I think, on the contrary that this self exile in this land, plenty of mystery and rituals not only nourished still more the fertile creativity of him; but enriched his surrealistic vision about the overall pattern of behavior of the human being. Possibly, if Bunuel would not have lived n Mexico, films like Nazarin, Viridiana or the crimila life of Archibaldo de la Cruz simply would have not made.

In this sense, El Bruto is perhaps, one of his most devastating and delirious visions about the servile and tyrannical abuse of a landowner respect a tough slaughter laborer. Moments of bitter irony and melodramatic vignettes make of this film one of his smartest ones.

A must-see.
November 6, 2007

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