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The Phantom of Liberty

The Phantom of Liberty

Comedy · 1974

This Surrealist film, with a title referencing the Communist Manifesto, strings together short incidents based on the life of director Luis Buñuel. Presented as chance encounters, these loosely related, intersecting situations, all without a consistent protagonist, reach from the 19th century to the 1970s. Touching briefly on subjects such as execution, pedophilia, incest, and sex, the film features an array of characters, including a sick father and incompetent police officers.

Movie details

The Phantom of Liberty

“Luis Bunuel's kinkiest comedy.”

1974 Comedy 1h 44m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.4 / 10

Community rating

This Surrealist film, with a title referencing the Communist Manifesto, strings together short incidents based on the life of director Luis Buñuel. Presented as chance encounters, these loosely related, intersecting situations, all without a consistent protagonist, reach from the 19th century to the 1970s. Touching briefly on subjects such as execution, pedophilia, incest, and sex, the film features an array of characters, including a sick father and incompetent police officers.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Phantom of Liberty?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Luis Buñuel

Written by

Luis Buñuel · Jean-Claude Carrière

Jean-Claude Brialy

Jean-Claude Brialy

Mr. Foucault

Adriana Asti

Adriana Asti

Lady in Black

Milena Vukotić

Milena Vukotić

Nurse

Monica Vitti

Monica Vitti

Mrs. Foucault

Jean Rochefort

Jean Rochefort

Mr. Legendre

Michel Piccoli

Michel Piccoli

Police Prefect #2

Adolfo Celi

Adolfo Celi

Doctor

Court is in session

Put The Phantom of Liberty on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Arthouse Gremlin

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.