---
title: "Tristana: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/tristana/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/tristana"
critics_score: 74
critics_reviews: 9
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Tristana (1970): what the critics said

Critics' score 74 from 9 reviews: 5 positive, 4 mixed, 0 negative.

The reviews lean favourable, with praise clustering around the performances and Buñuel’s treatment of repression, corruption and unequal relationships. Catherine Deneuve draws admiration for her chilling performance, while Fernando Rey earns praise even from critics less persuaded by the film around him. The more enthusiastic readings find complicated characters, unsettling dreamlike passages and a sly connection between sexual and political repression; they value the film’s resistance to simple explanations.

The spread runs from strong enthusiasm to qualified approval, with disagreement chiefly over how much subtlety and irreverence Buñuel brings to the material. Slant Magazine finds an accessible introduction to his work, but faults the blunt symbolism and obvious dialogue. Variety is more reserved, describing a sombre, unusually respectful film with only intermittent flashes of mischief, though it singles out Rey for praise. These reservations concern the handling of the material rather than the central performances.

## Radio Times — David Parkinson

Rating 5/5. 

Parkinson calls the film a bitter, brilliant indictment of corruption and decay. He praises Fernando Rey’s performance as Don Lope and Catherine Deneuve’s chilling portrayal of the victim turned tormentor.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-h6d63e/tristana/)

## Los Angeles Times — Betsy Sharkey

Rating Critic's Pick. 22 February 2013. 

Sharkey presents the restored film as a rare opportunity to appreciate Buñuel’s range and rebellious vision. She especially praises Catherine Deneuve’s performance and the restoration’s subtle, muted colors.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-xpm-2013-feb-22-la-et-mn-tristana-20130222-story.html)

## The AV Club — Scott Tobias

Rating B+. 20 March 2013. 

Tobias finds the film rich in mystery and meaning, with characters too complicated to reduce to simple types. He praises Buñuel’s layered treatment of the story and the film’s elusive, dreamlike strangeness.

[Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/tristana-1798176173)

## The New Yorker — Richard Brody

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 19 November 2015. 

Brody presents the film as a forceful, slyly satirical drama. He praises how Buñuel links sexual repression and political repression without sacrificing the story’s disturbing immediacy.

[Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/movie-of-the-week-tristana)

## Slant Magazine — Ed Gonzalez

Rating 3/4. 11 September 2003. 

Gonzalez finds the film mundane but competent, and a useful entry point to Buñuel. He praises its surrealist force near the end, while criticizing its blunt symbolism and obvious dialogue.

[Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/tristana/)

## Time Out — CA

Fi1m's normalised score 67/100 (inferred from the text). 

The available description frames the film as a mockingly sensible black comedy. It singles out the Toledo setting and the young ward’s relationship with her old guardian.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/tristana)

## RogerEbert.com

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 

The page could not be inspected, so the critic’s verdict is unavailable. No specific praise or complaint can be verified.

[Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/tristana-1970)

## The New York Times — Vincent Canby

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 27 September 1970. 

The page is blocked, so the critic’s verdict cannot be verified. Its praise or complaints about the film likewise cannot be confirmed.

[Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1970/09/27/archives/bravo-bunuel-bravo-for-bunuels-tristana.html)

## Variety — Variety Staff

Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 1969. 

The review finds the film somber and more respectful than expected, with only occasional flashes of Buñuel’s irreverence. It singles out Fernando Rey as superb in his role.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/1969/film/reviews/tristana-1200422053/)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/tristana.md