In the year 2002, it was announced that an alternate ending for Los Olvidados (labeled "the happy ending") was discovered at the Film Warehouse of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and it would be restored digitally in order to show it to the public. On July 8, 2005, it was re-screened with the alternate ending on a few selected venues and included in subsequent DVD releases.
At the International Cinematographic Festival in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico, on February 3, 2011, the last surviving member of the cast, Alfonso Mejia (Pedro), introduced the alternative ending to the film.
According to Mejia, Buñuel was "pressured by the censorship in México, and urged to film an alternative ending, a conventional ending, to maintain the image of a progressive Mexico, where no one was poor or illiterate" (you can view the interview here).
The alternative ending begins with El Jaibo and Pedro fighting on an abandoned warehouse. Pedro pushes El Jaibo from the roof, where he falls to his death. Pedro frisks the body for the money El Jaibo stole from him (in contrast to the original ending, where Pedro is murdered by El Jaibo). Pedro returns to the farm school with the money that the principal entrusted to him.
an absolute masterpiece. pretty disturbing though. all the characters let you down again and again. and if otherwise that is surely not enough to get back to surface.
Bunuel is one of my favorite directors, and he has done so much to push forward the art of film. Here he tells a story very grounded in reality, deviant from a lot of his more surrealist work. That dark, dream-like style is still present throughout this, and The Young and the Damned might be his most brutal. On this rewatch I was struck most by the array of layered characters. The blind man is both sympathetic and reprehensible, his views seem to reflect those of a lot Mexicans throughout this time in history, yearning for the security a more violent government provided. The principal at the farm school displays antithetical beliefs to the blind man, wishing more to nurture and prepare the youth for the future (and the future for the youth). A showcase for the poetry of relationships in a community, albeit tragic.
Those poor children. I wanted to hug each one of them no matter how "bad" they were. Poverty is hell. It makes people feel and do all kinds of things they would never think to do otherwise. The dream sequence in the movie was wonderfully unexpected. The photography, clean and crisp. Not as brutal as I expected but I did have to turn away during the animal beatings/killings.
Really crude, and yes a memory of city that was and not exist anymore. Don't miss the alternative end wich was made to please the audience but fortunately it wasn't selected.
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Marazmatique
Wiki, concerning an alternative ending:At the International Cinematographic Festival in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico, on February 3, 2011, the last surviving member of the cast, Alfonso Mejia (Pedro), introduced the alternative ending to the film.
According to Mejia, Buñuel was "pressured by the censorship in México, and urged to film an alternative ending, a conventional ending, to maintain the image of a progressive Mexico, where no one was poor or illiterate" (you can view the interview here).
The alternative ending begins with El Jaibo and Pedro fighting on an abandoned warehouse. Pedro pushes El Jaibo from the roof, where he falls to his death. Pedro frisks the body for the money El Jaibo stole from him (in contrast to the original ending, where Pedro is murdered by El Jaibo). Pedro returns to the farm school with the money that the principal entrusted to him.
Kenneth McMahon
Utterly fantastic nightmare sequence.heat_
an absolute masterpiece. pretty disturbing though. all the characters let you down again and again. and if otherwise that is surely not enough to get back to surface.Ceyyhun
Distrubingly brilliant. Can sense Buñuel touches all over the movie.Duke of Omnium
Not the most depressing thing I've ever seen (that 'honor' would go to Lilya 4-ever or possibly Osama), but relentlessly grim, right to the end.eduaudy
The ending scene is just.. flawlessiCheckFilms
Truly awesome. My introduction to Buñuel. Will be watching more of his movies in the coming days.The disclaimer (nothing being fictitious) and introduction (not an optimistic take - it's reality) makes it all the more important.
KekoJones
Yeah, the nightmare sequence is one of the best scenes I've ever seen!kidijs
This is the most depressing movie I've ever seen.Rohit
Luis Buñuel kicks so much assmcmakattack
Bunuel is one of my favorite directors, and he has done so much to push forward the art of film. Here he tells a story very grounded in reality, deviant from a lot of his more surrealist work. That dark, dream-like style is still present throughout this, and The Young and the Damned might be his most brutal. On this rewatch I was struck most by the array of layered characters. The blind man is both sympathetic and reprehensible, his views seem to reflect those of a lot Mexicans throughout this time in history, yearning for the security a more violent government provided. The principal at the farm school displays antithetical beliefs to the blind man, wishing more to nurture and prepare the youth for the future (and the future for the youth). A showcase for the poetry of relationships in a community, albeit tragic.Seba237
An story so real that hurts.ClassicLady
Those poor children. I wanted to hug each one of them no matter how "bad" they were. Poverty is hell. It makes people feel and do all kinds of things they would never think to do otherwise. The dream sequence in the movie was wonderfully unexpected. The photography, clean and crisp. Not as brutal as I expected but I did have to turn away during the animal beatings/killings.juanittomx
Really crude, and yes a memory of city that was and not exist anymore. Don't miss the alternative end wich was made to please the audience but fortunately it wasn't selected.Dieguito
A real story from "la calle", it happens everyday in underdevelop countries.. The movie from Buñuel that most makes logical sense.Showing items 1 – 15 of 24