If you loved
That Obscure Object of Desire
Luis Buñuel · Film · 1977
You are drawn to the volatile, irrational power dynamics that emerge when obsession, class conflict, and secrets collide in relationships.
Books on the same thread
The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea
Yukio Mishima · Book · 1994
Just as in That Obscure Object of Desire, this narrative captures the unsettling intersection of desire and cruelty, where an outsider's obsession disrupts the established order with tragic, nihilistic consequences.
Flight Behavior
Barbara Kingsolver · Book · 2012
Much like the protagonists in That Obscure Object of Desire, Dellarobia navigates a life defined by stifling social constraints and deep-seated marital dissatisfaction that demands a radical, messy personal reckoning.
Sputnik Sweetheart
Haruki Murakami · Book · 2001
If the elusive nature of the beloved in That Obscure Object of Desire captivated you, this story offers a similar meditation on the existential alienation inherent in unrequited, haunting romantic pursuits.
Twisted Love
Ana Huang · Book · 2022
This narrative mirrors the dark, intense power imbalances found in That Obscure Object of Desire, focusing on how a traumatic past fuels a obsessive, protective, and ultimately destructive romantic dynamic.
Series on the same thread
Rent-a-Girlfriend
Series · 2020
While tonally lighter, this story echoes the performative and transactional nature of romance depicted in That Obscure Object of Desire, highlighting the frustration of modern relationships built on artifice and deception.
Yo soy Betty, la fea
Fernando Gaitán · Series · 1999
This series explores the rigid social class hierarchies that complicate romantic entanglements, mirroring the friction and power plays that define the central relationship in That Obscure Object of Desire.
Maxton Hall – The World Between Us
Series · 2024
The central conflict here relies on the same intoxicating mix of secrets, lies, and class friction that makes the relationship in That Obscure Object of Desire so volatile and compelling.
My Demon
Choi A-il · Series · 2023
The forced proximity and power struggle between these leads reflect the intense, adversarial bond seen in That Obscure Object of Desire, where mutual obsession serves as the primary catalyst for connection.
Podcasts on the same thread
Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
Armchair Umbrella · Podcast · 2026
This show embraces the same fascination with the messiness of human shortcomings and vulnerability that drives the psychological depth of the characters in That Obscure Object of Desire.
2 Steps Back
Podcast
These candid personal stories mirror the revelatory nature of the narrative in That Obscure Object of Desire, pulling back the curtain on the complex and often contradictory realities of modern life.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is That Obscure Object of Desire based on a true story?
No, That Obscure Object of Desire is not a true story. It is a 1977 film by Luis Buñuel that follows a fictional narrative about a wealthy Frenchman named Mathieu and his dysfunctional, cruel relationship with a young flamenco dancer named Conchita.
What is the premise of That Obscure Object of Desire?
That Obscure Object of Desire centers on a wealthy Frenchman named Mathieu who tells his train passengers about his volatile relationship with a 19-year-old flamenco dancer named Conchita. The story explores themes of depravity, lies, and cruelty within the context of their intense and dysfunctional romantic connection.
How does the story in That Obscure Object of Desire begin?
The narrative of That Obscure Object of Desire begins on a train car. After Mathieu dumps a bucket of water on a young woman from the train window, he begins regaling his fellow passengers with the complex and troubling history of his relationship with that woman, Conchita.
Is That Obscure Object of Desire a story about a healthy relationship?
No, That Obscure Object of Desire is not about a healthy relationship. The film depicts a dysfunctional connection defined by cruelty, depravity, and lies, which the protagonist Mathieu describes as the fundamental building blocks of his love for the young flamenco dancer Conchita.