El Bruto (1953)

☆ ☆ ☆

El Bruto (1953) – L. Buñuel

After his collaboration with Dalí at the height of surrealism, Luis Buñuel laid low and then re-emerged in Mexico where he slowly rebuilt his career with a series of commercial films for local producers.  Some of these films are now recognised as important parts of his oeuvre (Los Olvidados, The Exterminating Angel) but many remain virtually unknown.  El Bruto falls into the latter category.  Clocking in at a trim 80 minutes, it is basically straight melodrama.  Although Buñuel’s usual interests (surrealism, feet, insects) are absent, there is a strong Marxist undercurrent which aligns with his political orientation.  A rich landlord hires El Bruto, more brawn than brains working at a slaughterhouse, to help him evict some poor tenants who are organized to fight.  Poor Bruto punches a sick old man who later dies; even worse, he falls in love with the man’s daughter who freaks out when she discovers Bruto is responsible for her father’s death.  All the while, the landlord’s wife is virtually throwing herself at Bruto.  Well, it doesn’t end well for any of them.  Worth a look but not up there with Buñuel’s masterworks by any stretch of the imagination.