ذلك الشيء الغامض الذي نرغب فيه

Luis Bunuel is one of my favourite directors, and this is probably my favourite movie from his vast catalogue. (But I love most of his later films.) He has a unique, surrealistic view, but his talent for narrative and his great sense of humour always ensure that his movies remain accessible. I've always admired movies that manage to say something profound about the amazingly complex nature of women, about how they see themselves, and how men see them. The nature of love, passion, obsession - these are all intriguing questions, and Bunuel digs deep, to their very core. The fundamental duality of human nature is conveyed here through the use of two actresses in the same role - a very original device (though, funnily, it was born out of necessity), and the execution is flawless, merging the two faces of a woman into one. A true cinematic experience, highly recommended for every film buff.

... Bunuel (not Sam, in this case). This movie is again about human obsession! The trick using 2 different actresses for one role as stated by another user, is not unique per se, but heightens the surrealism of the movie. And it does work perfectly as to other films that couldn't handle that same weight. Or couldn't convey it to the viewing audience at least! While it has a slow pace, the movie feeds from it, especially because you have to get a grip of the story- and time-line you have to handle. It is not difficult to follow, but you might need to watch it a second time to really appreciate it :o)