Luis Buñuel’s classic Belle De Jour is a surreal and erotic daydream that explores desire, fetishism and social norms. The story follows Séverine Serizy (a courageous role by Catherine Deneuve), a Parisian housewife whose porcelain perfection hides a cracked inner self. Séverine begins spending her afternoons secretly in a brothel, where she indulges her sexual desires. Buñuel blends fantasy and reality in this burst of cinematic transgression, addressing both the desires of the characters and those of the viewer. The film offers a gently absurdist critique of the social mores and class divisions of the 1960s.

Deneuve delivers an iconic portrayal of Séverine, a woman who feels trapped in her marriage and seeks her liberation in a surreal quest for fetishistic pleasure. Her understated charisma hides the complexity of her character, making the film a profound study of oppression, liberation and identity. Buñuel’s masterful use of symbolism and surreal images makes Belle de Jour both a provocative and timeless exploration of the human psyche and one of his greatest hits.