Customer Reviews

The Brute (El Bruto)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Wow...What an intense and enthralling film. Pedro Armendariz, Katy Jurado and Andres Soler are exquisite. Directed most artfully by the great Luis Bunuel, these immense talents combine to completely absorb you in this dark drama.

From 1952, it's a film that has aged well. An unfeeling landlord is going to evict the poor residents of his property in order to sell the land at a huge profit. He's got the law and the courts on his side, but the process is easier said then done. He comes up against some tough opposition when the tenants refuse to move and stand up to him under the leadership of four of the most outspoken and brave men of the group. Frustrated by the tenant's stand and loyalty to each other, his beautiful wife who has a very dark side, advises him to get rid of the four instigators. Not being a young man, he turns to El Bruto. A guy who although not the smartest of the bunch, has a physical presence that is quite intimidating. And what's more he has been loyal to the landlord, his mentor since childhood. El Bruto takes matters into his own hands and the results is tragic. Complications get even deeper when El Bruto falls deeply in love with one of the tenants daughters, but has already given in to the seductive powers the landlord's wife. She is a woman scorned and is out for blood.

I would liken it to "On the Waterfront", in the way that pits the powerful against the weak, the relationship of El Brute and the girl,the character study(that may have you wondering, just exactly who is "The Brute" in this film), and as the film builds on the emotions of all concerned and gets more intense as the story unfolds.

I have a different edition of this film that is in spanish with english subtitles(no option to turn off):El Bruto That DVD transfer is clean and clear. You will barely notice it's age. I notice the product info here does not mention subtitles, so if you go for this one you may want to check with the sellers on subtitles if needed.

A fine film and a definite keeper. Katy Jurado, always a joy to watch, turns in a fiery must see perfomance for fans. Armendariz presents an huge and powerful portrayal. Together,under the superb filming of Luis Bunuel they are electrifying, making this a cinematic treasure.

The film has language and adult themes.

Gracias......Laurie

The well known sojourn of Bunuel in Mexico has been unfairly regarded for most audiences: I think, on the contrary that this self exile in this land, plenty of mystery and rituals not only nourished still more the fertile creativity of him; but enriched his surrealistic vision about the overall pattern of behavior of the human being. Possibly, if Bunuel would not have lived n Mexico, films like Nazarin, Viridiana or the crimila life of Archibaldo de la Cruz simply would have not made.

In this sense, El Bruto is perhaps, one of his most devastating and delirious visions about the servile and tyrannical abuse of a landowner respect a tough slaughter laborer. Moments of bitter irony and melodramatic vignettes make of this film one of his smartest ones.

A must-see.

The rich landlord wants the tenants out, so he can tear the buildings down.
He hire the brute as his thug to persuade the stubborn people
to move. But his plots and that of his wife backfire
when the brute turns out to be nicer and more attractive than anyone
thought. The end is tragic and the movie is realistic as to the setting
and costumes as there is a shot out at the end.
I liked the movie, but it isn't the quality of Viridiana - Criterion Collection
by the same director even with better known actors and actresses.

I purchased this film twice and received defective disks both times. Beware Cinemateca products.

El Bruto is a strange movie about.. well a brute, a tough guy who is hired to do the dirty work for a tyrannical landlord who is trying to get rid of his impoverished tenants.. But as events unfold the movie takes some ironic plot twists... Punctuated with moments of comedy mainly from the father of the slumlord, El Bruto is a strange and beautiful early film of don luis... It is beautiful in its simplicity and in its photography.. and its story is unconventional and unique..
The quality of the dvd itself was better than i expected.. just don't expect any extras and you will be fine with the more than acceptable print of the film - at least in my eyes..