Viva la Muerte
Director: Fernando Arrabal
Year Released: 1971
Rating: 1.0
Though I understand this is a protest against Franco-controlled Spain - and focuses on Arrabal's psychic torment over his real father's mysterious disappearance - I can't help but see this film as pretentious and showy, making a consistent effort to shock (even going so far as to show animals being slaughtered, which is usually a tell-tale desperation move). There is barely any story to stick the images to and it's almost as if Arrabal was coming up with it as it was going on - he apparently has a strong reputation as a writer and playwright, but as a filmmaker he's considerably less impressive than either Jodorowsky or Buñuel.
