That Obscure Object of Desire

That Obscure Object of Desire

Year: 2001

Runtime: 102 min

Language: French

Director: Luis Buñuel

DramaComedyRomance

A wealthy Frenchman's life takes a dramatic turn when he meets a passionate flamenco dancer, leading to a whirlwind romance. While traveling on a train, he recounts their intense and tumultuous relationship to his fellow passengers, revealing a complex story of desire, betrayal, and the blurring of boundaries between love and cruelty. The narrative explores the intricacies of human connection and the potential for both beauty and pain within passionate relationships.

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Timeline & Setting – That Obscure Object of Desire (2001)

Explore the full timeline and setting of That Obscure Object of Desire (2001). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The film takes place during a period characterized by political upheaval and social unrest, as leftist factions engage in violent protests. This chaotic climate affects the characters' lives and relationships, creating a sense of urgency and tension throughout the narrative. The historical context intensifies the dynamics within Mathieu and Conchita's fraught love story.

Location

Seville, Paris, Madrid

Seville is known for its rich history and vibrant flamenco culture, serving as the backdrop for Conchita's passionate performances. Paris symbolizes wealth and sophistication, contrasting with Mathieu's turbulent emotions. Madrid, the capital of Spain, adds a layer of urban chaos, representing the couple's tumultuous relationship amidst political tensions.

🇪🇸 Spain 🇫🇷 France 🏙️ City

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:22

Main Characters – That Obscure Object of Desire (2001)

Meet the key characters of That Obscure Object of Desire (2001), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Mathieu (Fernando Rey)

Mathieu is a wealthy, middle-aged Frenchman who finds himself caught in a chaotic love affair with Conchita. His character is driven by a mix of desire and frustration, layered with moments of introspection about his choices. Mathieu often oscillates between moments of anger and moments of vulnerability, showcasing the complexity of his emotional state.

👨‍💼 Wealthy 💔 Heartbroken

Conchita (Carole Bouquet, Ángela Molina)

Conchita is a beautiful and enigmatic flamenco dancer who embodies both allure and defiance. Her character is defined by her complexity—she is youthful yet manipulative, promising intimacy while maintaining emotional distance. Conchita's actions are driven by the need for autonomy, often at the cost of her relationship with Mathieu, showcasing her duality as both a lover and a provocateur.

💃 Dancer 🔥 Alluring

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:22

Major Themes – That Obscure Object of Desire (2001)

Explore the central themes of That Obscure Object of Desire (2001), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

❤️ Love and Turmoil

The movie explores the complexities of love through the lens of a tumultuous relationship marked by passion, betrayal, and pain. Mathieu and Conchita's love story is riddled with misunderstandings and emotional conflict, reflecting the often chaotic nature of romantic entanglements. Their relationship ultimately showcases love's capacity to be both euphoric and destructive.

⚔️ Violence and Conflict

Set against a backdrop of political violence, the film highlights how external chaos reflects the internal turmoil of its characters. Scenes of physical confrontation and emotional abuse illustrate the destructive cycles of anger and power struggle. This theme serves as a commentary on how personal relationships are often influenced by larger societal issues.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:22

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about obsessive toxic love like That Obscure Object of Desire

Movies where passionate love becomes a dark, psychologically consuming battle.Explore movies like 'That Obscure Object of Desire' that delve into destructive, all-consuming relationships. If you were captivated by the film's depiction of a passionate yet painful affair, these recommendations feature similar stories of obsessive desire, emotional volatility, and the unsettling power dynamics within toxic romances.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread often follow a similar downward spiral, where an initial, magnetic attraction between two people devolves into a game of psychological warfare. The narrative structure may involve flashbacks or unreliable narrators, emphasizing the chaotic, subjective nature of the relationship as power constantly shifts and boundaries are violated.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped together because they share a core focus on the destructive nature of obsessive love. Viewers can expect a consistent experience of high emotional intensity, dark tone, and complex character studies that challenge conventional notions of romance, focusing instead on jealousy, manipulation, and the potential for violence in passion.

Movies with framed narratives like That Obscure Object of Desire

Stories told through a character's unreliable, emotionally charged recollection.Discover films with narrative structures similar to 'That Obscure Object of Desire,' where a character recounts a pivotal story from their past. If you enjoyed the film's train journey framing device, these movies feature similar non-linear storytelling, unreliable narrators, and plots that explore how memory shapes our understanding of desire, betrayal, and trauma.

reflectivemelancholiccomplexunreliablepsychologicalnon-linearambiguousthought-provoking

Narrative Summary

This thread encompasses movies where the plot is structured around a character retelling a significant, often painful, chapter of their life. The primary conflict exists in the past, but its emotional weight is felt in the present frame. This structure often creates complexity, as the gap between the narrator's perspective and the objective truth becomes a central theme.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here based on their shared use of a framing device to explore memory and subjective truth. They commonly feature complex, non-linear storytelling, an ambiguous or bittersweet ending feel, and a heavy emotional weight, as the act of retelling the story is itself a part of the character's emotional journey.

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That Obscure Object of Desire Summary

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That Obscure Object of Desire Summary

That Obscure Object of Desire Timeline

Track the full timeline of That Obscure Object of Desire with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

That Obscure Object of Desire Timeline

That Obscure Object of Desire Spoiler-Free Summary

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That Obscure Object of Desire Spoiler-Free Summary

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