A non-denominational journeyman priest wanders across the sins , plagues and poverty of the lower classes and secular world . Along the way he experiencies a number of thunderous episodes that have relation with the Gospels .At the beginning he lives at an old hostel along with a few prostitutes who rob him some belongings . Later on , Nazarin undertakes a religious journey followed by the problematic and epileptic Beatriz : Marga Lopez , and, by Andara : Rita Macedo who formerly murdered a woman . Nazarin efforts to follow Christ's teachings, he then learns the thought-provoking lessons about he can get charity as well as give it .
Here Buñuel never ridicules religion, but he carries out a sour critical to limited religious aspects, and he observes how irrelevant most of his work is to the sinners Nazarin tangles with. This is a scathing indictment of Christianity , well written and directed by the great filmmaker Buñuel. Drama, religion, and documentary-alike account of whores, waifs, beggars, dwarf, street urchins and poor people in the blocks, streets and outdoors from Mexico country. "Nazarin" is a true Buñuel hero well represented by Francisco Rabal who gives a very good acting as Nazarin , a priest who gathers together a little group of disciples wandering throughout the Mexican desert as a cross between JesusChrist and Don Quixote. It results to be a perfect vehicle for Francisco Rabal as the defrocked reverend attempting to relive Christ's life. The Spanish actor Francisco Rabal is well accompanied by an enjoyable Mexican cast such as : Marga López, Rita Macedo, Ignacio López Tarso, Murayama and Rosanda Monteros who acted in The Magnificent Seven.
It contains an evocative and atmospheric cinematography in black and white, shot in Churubasco studios and exteriors filmed in Mexican landscapes by the expert cameraman Gabriel Figueroa , Indio Fernandez's regular photographer . The motion picture was competently directed by Luis Buñuel , at his grimmest and usual style. It was directed in his Mexican period, once he exiled from Spain to France and later on, Mexico . The first one he made in Mexico was "Gran Casino" with the singer idol Jorge Negrete, following "The great madcap or El gran calavera" with Fernando Soler. Then he was hired by producer Oscar Dancigers to make the successful "The forgotten ones or Los olvidados". Buñuel went on directing a in Mexico several films, some of them with same producer, such as : "The devil and the flesh, Mexican bus ride, The brute, Robinson Crusoe, A woman without love, Wuthering heighs, Archibald Cruz's criminal life , Evil Eden, The young one, Angel Exterminator, Simon of the desert" . Exiled Buñuel followed a French period including titles as "Diary of a chambermaid, Belle de Jour, The milky way, Discreet charm of Bourgeoise, The phantom of liberty". Of course, this great Spanish actor also shot films in Spain, such as : "Hurdes tierra sin pan", "Tristana", "Viridiana" and his last one "Obscure object of desire". Rating : 7/10. Better than average. Indispensable and essential watching for Luis Buñuel aficionados.
