The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972)
Surrealism is not for the discreet.
Presentation:
Lauded as a satirical masterpiece, a film ideally needs to have a significant amount of humor or wit to qualify. To give credit where it’s due, there is certainly a charming surrealist style but much of the film relies on bizarre shock, which viewers in 2026 will likely be desensitized to. Buñuel explores similar class disparities as Viridiana, but I am simply not a fan of his classical presentation, in my opinion putting minimal effort in staging and blocking. This film looks like a TV drama and though it is by design, there was nothing exciting nor exceptional departing from his prior works. As humor is often hit or miss, the feel in this movie should be everything.
Conclusion:
As surrealism is subjective, the film will require the audience to have a feeling of estrangement when watching this absurd satire. Will a light-horror film be enjoyable for a seasoned horror veteran? And will a surreal satire tickle audiences in 2026? Similar to David Lynch, one needs to have a baseline of normality in order to feel the absurd surrealism. But in 2026 with the advent of meme culture and mainstream acceptance of Lanthimos, will this discreet surrealism have the novelty to subvert you? Watch The Exterminating Angel instead.
Recommendations
No one escapes from the socialite dinner party.