My Last Breath

This is a unique and inspirational self-portrait of an artist and an antidote to a world in which the making of art is inextricably linked to money, branding, fashionable trends and conformity. It's also a fascinating documentation of the philosophy of the surrealists and how that coloured Bunuel's thinking and imagination as a film-maker and collaborator on many projects. What comes across strongly, and what is so inspiring, is Bunuel's integrity and humanity - his films were made on a shoestring budget, before the days of the blockbuster film - and the way that he made iconic work without becoming enslaved to formulas, trends or the lure of Hollywood. It's a very Spanish book, it makes you want to go to Toledo and hang out in dark cafes. Fascinating, and sad too (particularly the closing chapter), because this is a largely lost time. A moving, very honest and resonant portrait of the inner world of a visionary.

IF YOU ARE A FAN OF THE DIRECTOR JUST BUY IT. I DOUBT IF YOU WILL REGRET IT.

Found this a difficult one to review as the book was for my brother in law and not myself. As he has not passed any negative comments I can onlym assume that he liked it. Sorry that I can't be any more definitive.

Witty, self-mocking autobiography of the Spanish maverick film director who famously succeeded in getting Franco's fascist government to finance a film seen by many as an attack on his regime and on the Catholic Church. Copies of the film were promptly destroyed in Spain but Bunuel had the forethought to leave a copy in Paris. A fascinating read.

A wonderful book from a great film director well worth your time, read it. I would have loved to have spent some time in his company. Brilliant funny subversive.