From director Luis Buñuel (Un Chien Andalou, Land Without Bread, Belle De Jour, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie), this Spanish film was another listed in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, so it didn't matter that I knew nothing about it, I was going to watch it. Basically set in 1930's Spain, teenager Tristana (Catherine Deneuve) is orphaned after the death of her servant mother, she is adopted by her mother's master, elderly respected aristocrat Don Lope (Fernando Rey), despite having socialistic views about business and religion he is well known and liked by many. But the biggest weakness Don Lope has is for women, and despite being her trusted guardian he cannot help but fall in love with Tristana, to the point that he seduces her, and she becomes his lover, although it is much more sexual abuse of the innocent young woman, she is not completely aware of the implications as he often tells her she is free to do what she wants. A year or two later Tristana finds her own voice, demanding to study music, art and other subjects and wanting to become independent, and she one day meets young artist Horacio Díaz (Franco Nero), and she flees Toledo and her guardian with him as they have fallen in love. However Tristana is forced to return years later when she has a terminal disease on her leg, she is forced to have this leg amputated, but she survives the illness, and returning to Don Lope he asks for her hand in marriage which she accepts, but the change in her life has made her bitter, and Don Lope must live with the consequences of his actions towards his adoptive daughter. Also starring Lola Gaos as Saturna, Antonio Casas as Don Cosme, Jesús Fernández as Saturno and Vicente Soler as Don Ambrosio. It was nominated the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. Deneuve gives a terrific chilling performance as the young woman who grows up with perhaps an alternative view on life and the ways of the world, and Rey is also terrific as the man who has done it to her and who you can have no pity for, it is an interesting story with a twisted relationship and the need to escape or get revenge for ruining a life, I admit it wasn't all that easy to follow on occasions, but all in all it is worthwhile period drama. Very good!