HUNTER COLLEGE – FALL 2025

Luis Buñuel’s oeuvre spans over 50 years and comprises more than 35 films. The adjectives applied to his films (surrealist, neorealist, oneiric, dark, iconoclastic, heretic, noir, absurd) give a sense of his incisive gaze upon the reality that surrounded him. Economic constraints never impeded Buñuel from realizing his projects. He would use personal money or borrow from friends, shoot an entire feature in two weeks, or edit without a flatbed, just using a magnifying glass and a pair of scissors. Despite the disparate quality among his films, Buñuel was always proud of every film upon which he stamped his name. His body of work reflects the freedom he had as a creator, his technical expertise, political commitment, and the most captivating of personal obsessions. 

This course engages with the life and work of Luis Buñuel and the different cultural contexts he encountered in the countries he inhabited (Spain, France, USA, and Mexico). As we watch a large sample of his work, we will come to understand his narration style and critically analyze his irreverent aesthetics. This class pays special attention to how Buñuel’s experience in the U.S., and in New York City, in particular, influenced his films, as well as the impact of Buñuel’s cinema on other filmmakers. 

Instructor: Pedro Cabello del Moral: [email protected]

Schedule: Fridays 1:30-5:20 pm. Classroom: North Bldg 502 

Office Hours: Fridays 11:30 am – 1:30 pm or by appointment, Room HN 515