Nothing is Sacred: Three Heresies by Luis Buñuel (1961-1965) (Radiance Films)

[MifuneFan]

Radiance Films will be releasing a Luis Buñuel box set in December, featuring three of his films: Viridiana (1961), The Exterminating Angel (1962) and Simon of the Desert (1965). This is a region free release.

Nothing is Sacred: Three Heresies by Luis Buñuel (LE) (1961/1962/1965)

https://www.radiancefilms.co.uk/prod...g-is-sacred-le

LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES

• New 4K restorations of Viridiana and Simon of the Desert from the original negatives
  
• A new restoration of The Exterminating Angel from a 4K scan by Radiance Films
  
• Uncompressed mono PCM audio for each film
  
• Newly filmed appreciations for each film and Buñuel by filmmakers Richard Ayoade, Alex Cox, Guillermo del Toro, and Lulu Wang (2024, 55 mins)
  
• The Life and Times of Don Luis Buñuel - A BBC Arena documentary on Buñuel featuring contributions from Buñuel and collaborators including Catherine Deneuve, presented on Blu-ray for the first time (1983, 101 mins)
  
• A Mexican Buñuel - A documentary directed by Emilio Maillé on Buñuel’s Mexican period (1995, 56 mins)
  
• Buñuel: A Surrealist Filmmaker - A feature-length documentary directed by Javier Espada on Buñuel’s life and career, presented on Blu-ray for the first time (2021, 84 mins)
  
• An interview with Buñuel from 1964 recorded for French TV’s Cinéastes de notre temps (1964, 48 mins)
  
• The Other Trinity: Alatriste, Buñuel and Pinal - A visual essay on Buñuel in Mexico by Abraham Castillo Flores (2024, 34 mins)
  
• Dinner and Other Rituals - A visual essay on The Exterminating Angel and the dinner party on film by critic and writer Alexandra Heller-Nicholas (2024, 17 mins)
  
• Audio commentary on Viridiana by critic Michael Brooke (2024)
  
• Galleries including production and behind-the-scenes images
  
• Optional English subtitles for each film
  
• Reversible sleeves featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sister Hyde
  
• Limited edition 80-page book featuring new writing by Glenn Kenny, Justine Smith, Lindsay Hallam and David Hering, as well as archive material
  
• Limited edition of 6000 copies, presented in a rigid box with full-height Scanavo cases and removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings

Nothing is Sacred

From 1946 to 1965, Luis Buñuel directed 21 films in Mexico, the country that became his naturalised home. Towards the end of this period, the great master of surrealism would meet two of his most important collaborators - the husband-and-wife duo of producer Gustavo Alatriste and actress Silvia Pinal - and together they would create three of his most provocative and enduring works: Viridiana (1961), The Exterminating Angel (1962) and Simon of the Desert (1965). Presented here in new restorations, all three films are frequently hailed as some of the greatest of all time. All of what makes Buñuel one of the greatest of directors can be found within them: the startling imagery, the uncompromising surrealism, the wicked humour, the unapologetic eroticism, and the overwhelming disdain for contemporary boundaries of good taste.

In Viridiana, Pinal stars as a former nun who, believing she has been defiled by a relative, abandons nunhood and attempts to repent and lead a morally pure existence by turning a mansion into a shelter for vagrants. Hugely controversial on release, this brilliant satire remains shocking today, and was voted the best Spanish film of all time by Spanish critics in 2016.

The Exterminating Angel is one of Buñuel's most extraordinary and enduring works: after a night at the opera, a group of bourgeois party guests realise that they are inexplicably unable to leave the dining room they are sequestered in, and quickly descend into savagery. An influential blend of horror, comedy, drama and social commentary, the film was named one of the 200 greatest of all time in the 2022 Sight and Sound Critics Poll.

Simon of the Desert is a typically outrageous and provocative commentary on organised religion: a parable of Simon, the would-be saint who lives an ascetic life at the top of a ten foot pillar, the film features a memorable turn from Pinal as the Devil, and an unforgettably bizarre ending.

Nothing is Sacred (Viridiana, The Exterminating Angel, Simon of the Desert) Box Set Trailer - YouTube

[fatboyslim142]

The restoration of this is being shown at the London Film Festival on the 8th October at the BFI if anyone wants to see a Buñuel on the big screen. Ideal for trying before buying.

[JoePo]

I may have just wet myself.

[Gacivory]

This set is right now a contender for release of the year for me!

[filmlover22]

as much as I am looking forward to this, I am still hoping for Un chien andalou, Los olvidados and L'Age d'Or. Three classic Bunel's that - to my knowledge- do not have any HD releases available.

[KamomeShokudo]

On here:

[filmlover22]

yes, but that is OOP and going for high prices.

[MegamouthShark]

Originally Posted by KamomeShokudo

On here:

My first blu-ray!

[fatboyslim142]

Originally Posted by filmlover22

yes, but that is OOP and going for high prices.

There's 5 (3 of them are still sealed) on Ebay UK for under £40. The best price of the new (still sealed) ones is £30.

[HundredYearLurker]

Originally Posted by filmlover22

as much as I am looking forward to this, I am still hoping for Un chien andalou, Los olvidados and L'Age d'Or. Three classic Bunel's that - to my knowledge- do not have any HD releases available.

My most wanted: Los Olvidados, Él, The Criminal Life of Archibaldo de la Cruz.

[filmlover22]

Originally Posted by HundredYearLurker

My most wanted: Los Olvidados, Él, The Criminal Life of Archibaldo de la Cruz.

De la Cruz has been available in the US..

if this set is successful, then maybe they will release these others in the 🇬🇧

[Nitroes]

What a great set from Radiance.

Buying for Simon of the Desert as I have everything else but I don't mind.

The VCI release of The Criminal Life of Archibaldo de la Cruz is very nice https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-C...254496/#Review

[Nitroes]

Oh, Los olvidados for Japan:

image: Mubis.es

They're released separately too.

https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B086PLBTZ3/
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B086PQXJMB/
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B086PSMS3W/

[filmlover22]

Originally Posted by Nitroes

What a great set from Radiance.

Buying for Simon of the Desert as I have everything else but I don't mind.

The VCI release of The Criminal Life of Archibaldo de la Cruz is very nice https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-C...254496/#Review

Yes, that was the version I was referring to.

[Persona]

Originally Posted by filmlover22

yes, but that is OOP and going for high prices.

I sold mine last week for £10 at CEX, I didn't want to scalp on eBay. FYI if anyone is near Nottingham Victoria and needs a copy, mine was in mint condition with the booklet.

This looks like a stunning set, I will have to get my pre-order in!

[RFK]

Pre-ordered from Atomic. Bring on Los Olvidados!

[Sifox211]

This is now up at HMV:

Nothing Is Sacred: Three Heresies from Luis Bunuel

£44.99... or £35.99 with code

[justwannaboogie]

Ordered mine from HMV with the discount of course. Wouldn't want to miss this.

[CelestialAgent]

Originally Posted by KamomeShokudo

On here:

But not the 2019 4K restoration which is yet to appear on disc.

[HundredYearLurker]

Love Radiance, so likely getting this set regardless but does anyone anticipate we'll see 4K releases of these titles from Criterion or elsewhere?

(Obviously it wouldn't come from any of the other UK boutiques, which would likely represent the only real upgrades.)