Luis Buñuel’s ‘Diary Of A Chambermaid’ At Cinestudio

Spanish cinematic surrealist Luis Buñuel was known for putting off-beat imagery and illogical situations in his films. “Diary Of A Chambermaid” was somewhat of an exception. The 1964 dramatization of the rise of fascism in France was cynical and pessimistic, with few sympathetic characters, but it never ventured into the unrealistic. Buñuel, however, did manage to squeeze in his most frequent recurring bit of weirdness: a fetishistic fixation on women’s feet.

“Diary” is set in the 1930s. Jeanne Moreau stars as Céléstine, a beautiful Parisian who comes to work as a servant for a family in the countryside. Her master is a womanizer, her mistress is bitter and her mistress’ father sits alone all day looking at pornography and high-heeled shoes. Her fellow servant, George, is an anti-Semite and their next-door neighbor is a bully. Céléstine gets fed up with these people, but a tragic event has her determined to not leave just yet.

“Diary Of A Chambermaid” will be shown Sunday to Wednesday, Oct. 22 to 25, at 7:30 p.m., with a 5 p.m. matinee on Sunday, at Cinestudio, 300 Summit St., on the campus of Trinity College in Hartford.

Also at Cinestudio this week is “Le Corsaire,” a recorded presentation of Moscow’s Bolshoi Ballet performing Marius Pepita’s ballet based on poem by Lord Byron. It will be shown Sunday, Oct. 22, at 12:55 p.m.

Admission is $10, $8 seniors and students, $7 Friends of Cinestudio.

cinestudio.org.