Mujer sin amor. (Woman Without Love)

Reviewed by Rafael Ocasio, Agnes Scott Coll., Decatur, GA -- Críticas, 7/15/2008

(Mexico, 1951). b&w. Spanish (English subtitles). 85 mins. Facets/Cinemateca. 2007. DVD. $24.95. DRAMA

Directed by Luis Buñuel (1900–83), the renowned Spanish director who made a profitable career in Mexico with melodramatic films with an artistic flair, this film is an adaptation of a literary text by Guy de Maupassant. Thematically, it explores the oppression of women in Mexican society. The story line appears simple: Rosario is a young woman forced to marry an older man, Carlos Montero, in order to improve her social status. She diligently works in the family business, but her life is empty and loveless, until the dashing, handsome Julio Mistral, comes into the picture. Julio and Rosario fall in love, but Rosario refuses to abandon her sick husband and her child. The plot thickens after the death of Julio, who left a fortune to Miguel, Rosario’s second child. This brings a confrontation between the two brothers and eventually precipitates Rosario’s public confession of her infidelity. Although this type of film has a highly formulaic sexist view of women’s lives, the viewer will recognize Buñuel’s trademark interest in societal imposition on gender roles. In the end, contrary to the plots of traditional tearjerker films, Rosario’s behavior is not seen as criminal. Highly recommended for large collections on Mexico’s Golden Age in film.