Visual techniques in Viridiana

The spatial representation of Viridiana mainly consists of wide shots for each scene. But, Bunuel also uses a different type of spatial representation for some of his scenes leading to different interpretations. There is an emphasis on a close-up of the characters’ feet that signifies an uncommon technique. The scene of Viridiana’s sleepwalking exemplifies this style.

In the beginning of the scene, we are shown a wide shot of Don Jaime’s room as he is going through his deceased wife’s wedding things.

We are then shown a close-up of his foot with the wedding shoe on which leads us to believe of his want for his wife back.

Then, Viridiana enters the scene sleepwalking. We are given then a wide shot of the surroundings as she walks towards the fire in order to give us an orientation of the scene. As she sits, there is again another close-up of feet.

Viridiana’s feet are bare representing her Christian ideals and innocence in her faith. From this close-up we gather that she shows purity in a reality where this is not seen and even naive. Viridiana can be considered sacred to her profane surroundings due to this innocence in Christianity. Her uncle wants to contaminate this purity which we see in later scenes he succeeds through the close-up of Viridiana in her deceased aunt’s shoes. By her feet no longer being bare, she has entered the reality of the world that doesn’t exactly correspond to her Christian beliefs. Her uncle has ripped away the ideals of Christianity and innocence by his actions. These close-ups of the feet help further emphasize Viridiana’s transformation from naïve innocence to the harsh reality of the world. Plate’s Blasphemy: Art That Offends describes blasphemy as, “transgression, about crossing the lines between the sacred and the profane in seemingly improper ways” (Plate 40). Viridiana’s corruption can be seen as blasphemy for she represented the sacred. Her uncle violated and contaminated her from innocence which caused blasphemy for he took her from sacred to profane through molestation.

                This technique allows for us to be able to relate to the surroundings, but also have a different perspective due to a broadening of interpretation because of this emphasis on feet. Instead of being able to see the facial expressions we are given what the feet of the characters can give to us. The theme and meaning of this film correspond with each in that it expresses the unreality of Christian ideals in the world of today. Viridiana’s character is also transformed from virtuous to reality. This can be seen in this technique for we are given wide shots to acclimate to the surroundings. The feet close-ups instead of facial close-ups also allow us to see this transformation of character from the representations they present and from this transformation we can derive the theme and meaning.