Can Simon stay true to his beliefs or will temptation over come him?
Sep 19, 2009
by Captain_Couth
Rating:
+5
Simon of the Desert was a short film from Luis Bunuel. Claudio Brook stars as the pious Simon who's feels that he's not worthy of God's love and stands on a column trying to prove his love for the Lord. People flock to see him and worship at the base of the column. He performs a miracle by giving a man back his hands (who then slaps his daughter when she asks him a question). Simon's devotion to God is so great that not even his ailing mother can talk him down from his perch. During one of his lenghty prayers, the Devil in the guise of a beautiful woman (Silvia Pinal) tries to get Simon to leave the desert. First as a school girl, then in a possessed priest, Jesus Christ and finally as a woman in a moving coffin. Simon's devotion to God is so deep that it even conflicts and complexes himself. Will the Devil's final temptation be enough to convince Simon to leave his column?
A perfect satire of religion and piety. No matter what Simon does it's never enough for man or himself. He even questions his devotion to God and sometimes is confused by why he's up their in the first place. The Devil does everything it can to try and convince Simon of his futile attempts to enter God's good side. The only person that convince Simon is Simon and he's the only one who can decide if he's worthy or not of God and no one else.