In
the very last paragraph of his memoirs published in 1982, a year before his
death, The renowned film director, Luis Bunuel - old, deaf, and atheist, made a
confession. Despite the abhorrence he felt towards information, he expresses his
wish to be able to rise from the dead every 10 years, walk up to a news-stand,
buy several newspapers and then return to the cemetery, to read of the disasters
afflicting the world, before going back to sleep in the soothing silence of his
grave. That's all he demanded from an unexciting afterlife. Thirty years have slipped by since the film director's death. Were he to return now for a first visit, He would no doubt be astonished to see how isolated we have become thanks to miracles in communication, and information, such as cell phones and Internet. It's as if we all shared his deafness. He would probably reject the free press thrust in the face on his way to the nearest kiosk, though it's also likely he would balk at handing over one € for a newspaper.
Back in his grave, a perusal of front pages headlines would suffice, to show that human foibles haven't altered or diminished in the least. Catastrophes still happen from time to time; poverty and hunger are on the rise. Saragossa is currently celebrating an Expo. Communism has been replaced by rampant capitalism. the white House is occupied by black tenants!
Cultural ignorance is well on the way to becoming universal. Fanaticism in polished jackboots, wars rage wherever they can. Even though people die at alarming rate, the human race is growing older and older. Women stupidly emulate men. It has become fashionable to abhor pleasure - no dry Martinis, no cigars, no dripping suckling pigs, no ribald conversation.
To
tell the truth, it was hardly worth his while coming up for air. Perhaps the
exterminating angel will prevent him from making future trips to the
news-stand.
Didn't somebody say: 'All Cretans are liars' ?
Tags:LuisBunuel,Memoirs,Grave
