Bunuel’s pseudo-documentary (mockumentary, if you will) serves as a kind of introduction to two of the most prevalent themes in his films: Classism and the hypocrisy of the church. While not a totally faithful and honest depiction of the lives of the inhabitants of the Land Without Bread, the people shown are undeniably destitute. Bunuel shoots footage of people living in little more than huts, wearing rags, and making do with an extremely limited amount of food. The footage serves as a condemnation of the blatant wealth disparity that existed in Spain at the time. Bunuel contrasts this with footage from a nearby town which appears contemporary and even has a festival going on. The apparent short distance between the two towns is a stark reminder of just how callous of a blind eye society can turn to its less fortunate people. Bunuel also makes it a point to highlight and well-preserved and taken care of a local church is. Even literally remarking in the footage that this is the nicest place in the region. For a religion that preaches charity, mercy, kindness, and compassion, none of these things can apparently be afforded to the people of Las Hurdes (it comes as no surprise to learn that this film was quickly banned by the government upon release). And while Bunuel certainly did take certain creative “liberties” (shooting a goat off a cliff and claiming it fell when gun smoke is visible in frame and tying a donkey to a spot to be agonizingly stung by bees before mercifully putting it out of its misery), the point of his work is clear. There are things that are fundamentally wrong with how society chooses who deserves to live a life of dignity and who does not.