The Criminal Life of Archibaldo de la Cruz: Difference between revisions

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Line 1: {{Infobox_Film \| ~~#Redirect [[Ensayo de un crimen]] {{R uncategorized\|date=October 2008}}~~ name = Ensayo de un Crimen \| image = Ensayodeuncrimen.jpg\| caption = ''Ensayo de un Crimen'' poster \| writer = [[Luis Buñuel]]<BR>[[Eduardo Ugarte]]<BR>[[Rodolfo Usigli]] \| starring = [[Miroslava Stern]]<BR>[[Ernesto Alonso]]<BR>[[Rita Macedo]]<BR>[[Ariadna Welter]] \| director = [[Luis Buñuel]] \| producer = [[Alfonso Patiño Gómez]] \| movie_music = \| distributor = [[Alianza Cinematográfica]] \| released = [[19 May]] [[1955]] ([[Mexico]]) \| runtime = 89 min. \| language = [[Spanish language\|Spanish]] \| music = [[Jorge Pérez Herrera]] \| awards = \| imdb_id = 0048037 \| budget = \| }} '''''Ensayo de un Crimen''''' is a [[1955]] [[Mexico\|Mexican]] film by Spanish-born director [[Luis Buñuel]], known in English as '''''The Criminal Life of Archibaldo de la Cruz'''''. It focuses on a would-be [[serial killer]] whose plans, although elaborate, never result in an actual murder. ==Plot== {{Plot\|date=September 2007}} Archibaldo de la Cruz ([[Ernesto Alonso\|Alonso]]) is a wealthy Mexican man. As a privileged child during the [[Mexican Revolution]], he witnessed the death of his [[governess]], who died as she told him a fable about a [[music box]] that his mother had just given him. Because of the contents of the story and the coincidental timing of the governess's death, a young Archibaldo concludes that he had killed the woman using the music box. It is from there that his desire to kill begins. As an adult, Archibaldo relates this story to a [[nun]], and threatens to kill her with a [[straight razor]]. The terrified woman runs from Archibaldo, eventually running into an empty elevator shaft to her death. Archibaldo is called in by a judge investigating the incident. He confesses that he is responsible for her death, and for many others. Patricia Terrazas ([[Rita Macedo\|Macedo]]), is rather loud and constantly at conflict with her husband. After witnessing a fight between her and her husband, Archibaldo follows her and offers to drive her home, which she accepts. On arriving, he fantasizes of killing her with his [[straight razor]], but is interrupted when her husband returns home. The next morning a [[police]] officer arrives at Archibaldo's home, with news that Patricia had committed suicide. Next, Archibaldo turns his attention to Carlota Cervantes ([[Ariadna Welter\|Welter]]), a woman who outwardly appears very religious, and is purported to be a [[virgin]]. However, she is having an affair with a married man. Archibaldo approaches her saying that he is very conflicted between good and evil. He thinks that Carlota can fix his problems, and proposes to [[marriage\|marry]] her. In the meantime, Archibaldo pursues another woman, Lavinia ([[Miroslava Stern\|Stern]]), whom he met in a bar. Lavinia works as a model for [[mannequin]]s, and also shows [[United States of America\|American]] [[tourism\|tourists]] around town. Archibaldo invites Lavinia to his home under false pretenses. He tells her that when they met, she reminded him of [[Joan of Arc]] being consumed by flames. He plots to [[strangle]] her and burn her in a [[kiln]], but unexpectedly, the doorbell rings. It is Lavinia's tourist friends, the ''[[gringo\|gringüito]]s''. Lavinia has a disappointed Archibaldo take them on a tour of his home. When they leave, Lavinia says that she must go as well, and that she cannot see Archibaldo again because she is getting married. Just as this is happening, Carlota comes in with her mother to accept Archibaldo's proposal. But Archibaldo soon learns of her adulterous relationship, and is displeased. He fantasizes about making her kneel and [[pray]] on her wedding night, and shooting her while she is praying. The wedding goes through, however, her jilted ex-lover ends up shooting her instead. After having heard all of this, the judge says that Archibaldo has committed no crimes, and that merely thinking of killing people is not a crime. Archibaldo, despite his intense feelings of guilt, is deemed innocent. As if to be processing this unexpected reaction, Archibaldo takes a walk in the park. He then throws his music box into a lake, and moves on. He runs into Lavinia, whose marriage did not work out. The two walk together and the film ends. ==Academic Criticism== The film has been analyzed and studied by international academicians such as Victor Fuentes and Gerardo T. Cummings. Fuentes, a retired professor from [[University of California, Santa Barbara]], has included chapters dedicated to the detailed analytical study of ''Ensayo de un crimen''. His last book, ''La mirada de Buñuel'' (Spain: Tabla Rasa Libros y Ediciones, 2006) Furthermore, he has also found correlations between ''Ensayo de un crimen'' and ''Él''. Gerardo T. Cummings, on the other hand, published an article--published in 2004 by the Puerto Rican journal ''Revista Horizontes''--on the intertextual connections between the cinematic version and the original literary source, the novel by [[Rodolfo Usigli]]. The article was part of a larger dissertation chapter on the echoes of the novel in the film. Other critics who have dissected the film version of ''Ensayo de un crimen'' have been Marsha Kinder and Ilan Stavans. ==External links== {{imdb title \| id=0048037 \| title=Ensayo de un Crimen}} {{Article in Spanish that compares the film version to the literary source}} {{Luis Buñuel Films}} {{CinemaofMexico}} [[Category:1955 films]] [[Category:Mexican films]] [[Category:1950s comedy films]] [[Category:Criminal comedy films]] [[Category:Black comedy films]] [[Category:Satirical films]] [[Category:Films directed by Luis Buñuel]] [[Category:Spanish-language films]] [[es:Ensayo de un crimen]] [[fr:La Vie criminelle d'Archibald de la Cruz]] [[it:Estasi di un delitto]] [[hu:Archibald de la Cruz bűnös élete]] [[tr:Archibaldo de la Cruz'un Suçlu Yaşamı]]