Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 15, 2019

“Bunuel and the Labyrinth of the Turtles” began life as a graphic novel by Fermin Solis, providing inspiration for co-writer/director Salvador Simo to bring this odd story of a filmmaker in crisis to the screen. However, instead of a live-action realization of the tale, Simo retains a certain level of artistic fluidity through animation, giving the tale, which works through heavy doses of reality and the depths of the subconscious, a chance to come alive. While it examines Luis Bunuel and his journey to make his 1933 documentary, “Land Without Bread,” there’s more to “Labyrinth of the Turtles,” exploring the moviemaker’s relationships, passions, and drive to develop as a cinematic artist.

Simo aims to depict Bunuel as humanly as possible, inspecting his insecurities and fears, and also his collaboration with Ramon Aquilue, a Spanish anarchist who used lottery winnings to fund the production. The bulk of “Labyrinth of the Turtles” does track the development and difficult shoot for “Land Without Bread,” with Bunuel confronted with the realities of poverty in the remote town of Las Hurdes and his own integrity as a filmmaker, creating dramatic recreations of dire situations. Simo isn’t afraid of humor during the movie, but he’s better balancing the characters, crafting distinct personalities wrestling with various psychological issues.

Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.39:1 aspect ratio) presentation provides a fresh look at the budget animation of "Labyrinth of the Turtles," offering bright, bold colors that spotlight the feature's dreamscape adventures and location management. More natural hues are balanced with fanciful events. Detail secures a full understanding of creative intent and execution. Delineation is comfortable. A mild amount of banding is periodically detected.

Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix is quite active, creating a circular sense of life with hearty scoring cues and atmospherics, while select panning and separation effects generate additional immersion. Dialogue exchanges are sharp and emotive, preserving speed and clarity as the characters experience argumentative encounters. Sound effects are sharp and true. Low-end isn't active, but some weight is felt during dream sequences.

Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Bunuel's Prisoners" (73:00, HD) is a 2000 documentary from director Ramon Gieling, who returns to Las Hurdas to discover what happened to the town and its inhabitants after Bunuel's shoot for "Land Without Bread."

• Interview (10:23, HD) with director Salvador Simo examines his depiction of Bunuel in "Labyrinth of the Turtles," along with the creation of the story, trying to find a way to address personal feelings while exploring the documentary process. The ways of animation are discussed, including the recording of live performances to give the movie some dramatic life, and Simo describes his experience visiting the original location. Creative details are highlighted, and the production's efforts to best depict Ramon Aquilue are shared.

• And the U.S. Teaser Trailer (1:07, HD), U.S. Theatrical Trailer (2:10, HD), and Original Trailer (2:10, HD) are included.

Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Bunuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles" isn't a proper document of the "Land Without Bread" experience, but it gently repositions the emotions of the time, working to understand the famous filmmakers creative drive in 1933 and his relationships with those trying to support and challenge his vision.