Waiting for “Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles”

By Alice Buscaldi

The feature has been presented for the first time to the public last March, at the Cartoon Movie of Bordeaux (2018 edition) where it was still in working.

The 2D animation film is based on the graphic novel by Fermín Solís and directed by Salvador Simó. The production is by Sygnatia, Glow, The Glow Animation Studio, Submarine, Hampa, Telemadrid, Canal Extremadura TV.

The movie talks about the third feature created by the Spanish surrealist filmmaker Luis Buñuel (22 February 1900 – 29 July 1983) and how he made it: “Las Hurdes” (Land without Bread, 1932). The film has been labeled as “surrealist documentary” because it matches scenes of deplorable social conditions with a detached-sounding narration and a soundtrack made with the music by Brahms.

Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles is about how the movie has been financed by a donation from the sculptor Ramón Acín, the friend who won money thanks to a lottery ticket.

The influence of Salvador Dalí is clear, from the original footage to the animated feature, where are long-leg elephants walking along a street. Reality, dreams, memories of Salvador Dalí and his own childhood intermingle in his mind and sign Buñuel’s style.

The picture is waited on the screen for this year, despite in Spain it came out already in autumn 2018.

In the meanwhile, we can take a peek to the charming teaser offered by Glow Animation Studio.