The Criminal Life of Archibaldo De La Cruz (Ensayo De Un Crimen) – Second Run (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Mexico, 1955
Director: Luis Buñuel
Writers: Luis Buñuel, Eduardo Ugarte, Rodolfo Usigli
Cast: Miroslava, Ernesto Alonso, Rita Macedo, Ariadne Welter, Andrea Palma, Rodolfo Landa, José María Linares-Rivas, Leonor Llausás, Eva Calvo, Enrique Díaz Indiano, Carlos Riquelme, Chabela Durán, Carlos Martínez Baena, Manuel Dondé, Armando Velasco

Release Date: May 25th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 90 Minutes 48 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 12 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Spanish
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: £17.99 (UK)

"A reawakened childhood memory convinces rich, cultured Archibaldo that he is able to cause the death of others. But his murderous impulses are frustrated at every turn, driving him to find ever more inventive ways to fulfill his desires.” – Synopsis provided by the Distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information given about the transfer, “4K restoration by Cineteca Nacional Mexico."

The Criminal Life of Archibaldo De La Cruz (Ensayo De Un Crimen) comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 34 GB

Feature: 24.3 GB

While this release uses that same 4K source that VCI did for their Blu-ray release, the result is a stronger transfer that comes with a solid encode from Silversun Post. Flesh tones look healthy; contrast, black levels, image clarity, and compression are solid, and there are no issues with digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Spanish with newly created English subtitles that are removable. The audio quality is excellent; the dialogue is always clear, and everything sounds balanced; in terms of range, this track is noticeably more robust than VCI’s Blu-ray.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an archival video essay by writer and filmmaker Cristina Álvarez López titled Buñuel and Surrealism Result Into Love (4 minutes 52 seconds, LPCM stereo with text in English), an archival video essay by Cristina Álvarez López titled Buñuel in Mexico: The Logic of Delirium (4 minutes 49 seconds, LPCM mono Spanish with non-removable English subtitles and text in English), an archival video essay by Cristina Álvarez López titled International Buñuel: Interruptions as Method (5 minutes 29 seconds, LPCM mono Spanish with non-removable English subtitles and text in English), an archival video essay about The Criminal Life of Archibaldo de la Cruz by film historian David Wilt (26 minutes 45 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), Luis Buñuel's annotated personal script of the film (BD-Rom content) and a 24-page booklet with an essay titled Exploring The Criminal Life of Archibaldo De La Cruz written by Jordi Xifra, a text piece titled Introduction to the Video Essays, an essay titled Overcoming and Reconstructing Buñuel written by Cristina Álvarez López, cast & crew information, and disc credits.

Summary:

The Criminal Life of Archibaldo De La Cruz (Ensayo De Un Crimen) was directed by Luis Buñuel, a Spanish filmmaker who made most of his films in France and Mexico. Notable films he directed include L'Âge d'Or, The Exterminating Angel, Belle de jour, and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie.

The Criminal Life of Archibaldo De La Cruz (Ensayo De Un Crimen) fits firmly within the crime film genre. And yet, the result is not always a straightforward crime film because of the surreal elements that are a hallmark of the cinema of Luis Buñuel.

The narrative revolves around an affluent protagonist who, as a boy, was given a music box that he believes has magical powers that kill people whom he wishes death upon. After an opening sequence when he was a boy, which lays the groundwork for what follows, we fast forward to a mental institution where the protagonist now lives. From there, the bulk of the narrative is told via flashbacks that detail the protagonist's alleged crimes.

The cast is excellent, particularly Ernesto Alonso (The Forgotten Ones), who plays Archibaldo de la Cruz, a wealthy man whose obsession with a childhood trauma has impaired his ability to distinguish reality from fantasy. He delivers a solid performance that perfectly captures his character's state of mind.

From a production standpoint, there is not an area where The Criminal Life of Archibaldo De La Cruz (Ensayo De Un Crimen) does not excel. The premise is superbly realized, and a well-executed narrative that does a great job of employing flashbacks builds momentum that culminates in a sensational finale. Another strength is the visuals, which have a few stylish moments that are connected to the music box deaths. Ultimately, The Criminal Life of Archibaldo De La Cruz (Ensayo De Un Crimen) is a well-made psychological thriller that does a fantastic job of blurring reality with dark humor.

The Criminal Life of Archibaldo De La Cruz (Ensayo De Un Crimen) gets an excellent release from Second Run that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a wealth of insightful extras. Highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer