Tristana

In 1970 at the age of 70, the great Luis Buñuel was allowed to make a film in his native Spain for the first time in nearly a decade (his last Spanish production had been the highly controversial 1961 film Viridiana, which was banned in the country). Adapted from a novel by Benito Pérez Galdós, Buñuel switched the 19th-century setting in Madrid to the less modern town of Toledo in the late 1920s, and it is here that viewers meet the young and initially naïve title character (played to subtle perfection by Catherine Deneuve), who is adopted by her uncle, Don Lope (Fernando Rey), after her mother dies. A budget-strapped hypocrite who manages to pass himself off as an aristocrat, Don Lope seizes every opportunity to exploit Tristana for his seductive purposes, eventually giving her little choice but to become his reluctant lover and captive wife. She later finds genuine love with a local artist named Horacio (Franco Nero), but after Don Lope discovers their hidden affair, he is ready to go to any lengths to maintain control over his romantic “possession.” But Tristana is no longer an easily manipulated innocent, and Buñuel stages a fascinating turnaround as Tristana gains control of her sexual and emotional powers. Beautifully restored for both DVD and Blu-ray, extras include an audio commentary by Deneuve and film critic Kent Jones, a visual essay by Buñuel biographer Peter William Evans, an alternate ending, and a booklet. Highly recommended. (J. Shannon)