Illusion: Travels by Streetcar

This minor film from master surrealist Luis Bunuel is a nice change of pace from his more demanding works. A kind of skewed Mexican Laurel & Hardy, Illusion tells the amusing tale of a pair of streetcar workers, who are told that the old No. 133 tram is being put to pasture. Depressed, and fearing that they will lose their jobs, the duo get drunk, and show up late for a local religious play they are supposed to perform in (the skits portraying Satan's fall from grace, and Adam & Eve's expulsion from the garden are prime examples of Bunuel's biting satire). In mid-performance, the pair head back to the station, steal the streetcar, and begin cruising the streets giving people free rides. The interaction between the streetcar thieves and members of the working class, the clergy, and the authorities make for a satisfying comedy which is much more accessible than many of Bunuel's later films. Recommended. (R. Pitman)