The Milky Way (1969 film)

The film follows two French vagrants, Pierre and Jean, as they walk from Paris to Santiago de Compostela, the shrine of Saint James. Their journey is punctuated by a series of encounters with characters who embody various Catholic heresies and orthodoxies, including a Jansenist, a Molinist, a possessed woman, and a group of Manichaeans. These encounters are presented as surreal, often anachronistic vignettes that blur the line between past and present, reality and hallucination.

The narrative is deliberately episodic, with each scene functioning as a theological debate or a visual parable. For instance, the pilgrims witness a reenactment of the Virgin Mary's assumption, a debate between a Jesuit and a Jansenist on the nature of grace, and a scene where the Marquis de Sade discusses the Eucharist. The film ends with the pilgrims arriving at the cathedral, where they are served a meal by a mysterious host, suggesting a cyclical or ambiguous conclusion.

The Milky Way is a cinematic exploration of Catholic dogma, particularly the nature of the Eucharist, the Immaculate Conception, and the problem of free will versus divine grace. Buñuel, a lapsed Catholic, approached these themes with a mixture of irreverence and fascination, using the film to critique religious orthodoxy while also acknowledging its enduring power.

The film's title refers to the Milky Way, which in Christian tradition was sometimes seen as the path of pilgrims to Santiago, but also alludes to the 'way' of faith and the labyrinth of belief. Buñuel employs surrealist techniques to subvert linear narrative, creating a dreamlike atmosphere where historical periods and theological disputes coexist. The film's treatment of heresy is notably even-handed, presenting each viewpoint with a deadpan seriousness that undermines any simple moral or doctrinal conclusion.

The Milky Way was produced by Serge Silberman and filmed in France and Spain, with a budget that allowed for elaborate period costumes and locations. Buñuel collaborated with screenwriter Jean-Claude Carrière, who would become his regular writing partner. The film premiered at the 1969 Cannes Film Festival, where it was met with mixed reviews; some critics praised its intellectual audacity, while others found it baffling or overly didactic.

Over time, the film has been reassessed as a key work in Buñuel's late period, often grouped with his 'religious trilogy' alongside Viridiana (1961) and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972). It is admired for its rigorous engagement with theology and its refusal to offer easy answers. The film was released in France in 1969 and in the United States in 1970, and it has since become a staple of art-house cinema.

One of the film's most striking features is its use of actual theological texts: many of the dialogues are drawn verbatim from the writings of heretics and church fathers, such as the Jansenist Antoine Arnauld and the mystic Miguel de Molinos. Buñuel and Carrière researched these sources extensively, giving the film a documentary-like authenticity beneath its surreal surface.

The film also contains several in-jokes and references to Buñuel's own life, including a cameo by the director as a waiter in a café scene. Additionally, the character of the Marquis de Sade, who appears in a scene discussing the Eucharist, is played by Michel Piccoli, who would later star in Buñuel's The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie. The film's ending, with the pilgrims sharing a meal that echoes the Last Supper, has been interpreted as a commentary on the cyclical nature of religious experience.

Jansenism

A Catholic theological movement emphasizing original sin and divine grace, often seen as heretical by the church.

Molinism

A theological system that attempts to reconcile divine providence with human free will, named after Luis de Molina.

Manichaeism

A dualistic religion founded by Mani, which posits a cosmic struggle between good and evil.

Santiago de Compostela

A city in Spain, the reputed burial place of Saint James, and a major pilgrimage destination.