That Obscure Object of Desire is the final film directed by master surrealist Luis Buñuel . Based on the 1898 novel The Woman and the Puppet by Pierre Louÿs, the film follows Mathieu (played by Fernando Rey), a wealthy Frenchman who recounts his agonizing pursuit of a young woman named Conchita.
The film’s most famous stylistic choice is casting to play the single role of Conchita: Carole Bouquet and Ángela Molina. That Obscure Object of Desire (1977)
Overview and Narrative Structure
The narrative is structured as a series of told by Mathieu to a group of fellow train passengers traveling from Seville to Paris. This "story within a story" frames the audience's perception through Mathieu’s subjective and often frustrated viewpoint. Key Surrealist Element: The Dual Conchita