Spanish-born Mexican director and writer. Luis Buñuel is credited with being a driving forced behind cinematic surrealism. Buñuel received a Jesuit education and attended University in Madrid where he cultivated friendships with Salvador Dalí and Federico García Lorca. Buñuel's first film, Un Chien Andalou contains imagery that is still shocking today.
Buñuel's first feature, L'Age d'Or was a witty and cutting indictment of the church and the middle classes. Although considered a work of genius by many, in the years immediately following the production of L'Age d'Or Buñuel found work more difficult to come by in his native Spain and emigrated to the United States after the Spanish Civil War. After working in the Museum of Modern Art and as a dubber for Warner Bros, Buñuel moved to Mexico where he shot Los Olvidados, a film which earned him the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival.
Buñuel's late career included several films that are regarded as masterpieces, including: Belle de Jour, Diary of a Chambermaid and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie.
Some biographical information gleaned from the Internet Movie Database and the Encyclopedia of Film