Las Hurdes: Tierra Sin Pan (1933)
Spain 27m, B&W
Director: Luis Buñuel; Cast: Abel Jacquin, Alexandre O’Neill
Inspired by Maurice Legendre’s ethnographic study, Las Jurdes: étude de géographie humaine (1927), Land Without Bread is a subversive documentary about the plight of the villagers of Las Hurdes who lived in a poor and remote mountainous region of Spain. As a personal and political statement against government authority, Buñuel’s film is a disturbing combination of fact and fiction that was banned by Spanish government for “exploiting” the local people (Klaus Ming November 2017).
7 comments on “Las Hurdes: Tierra Sin Pan (1933)”
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ming movie reviews 
Didn’t Franco only take power in 36?
Bunuel just hated authorities of any kind. Here he gives it full throttle.
Indeed you are correct! Sloppy on my part. Thanks for the correction.
I wasn’t a huge fan, although I can understand why it’s important.
I wouldn’t say that I enjoyed it, but was certainly shocked by it. I kind of want to pick up a copy of the original ethnography after seeing it. I was aware of it through my undergraduate anthropology background – but hadn’t read it.
It has been criticized for being staged and manipulative.
I agree, it is both, but I think for the period – highly a highly effective film. For me, aside from the House is Black – https://klausming.wordpress.com/2009/06/26/the-house-is-black-1962/ this is probably the most disturbing documentary on the 1001 list.
»The house is black« is extremely strong and moving!