Adapted from Benito Pérez Galdós' novel and filmed in Mexico City and villages in the Cuautla region, Nazarín draws a sensitive portrait of a naïve and ineffective Catholic priest living among whores, beggars, and thieves in the early 1900's. One of Buñuel's favorites, Nazarín was reasonably successful, winning the 1959 Grand Prix International award at Cannes. In his autobiography, Buñuel notes that it nearly received the Prix de l'Office Catholique as well, with three jury members passionately arguing its case, "but, happily, they were in the minority."

Catholics who think this film sympathetic must be watching in a fog because it showcases the gentle priest Nazarin (Francisco "Paco" Rabal) as a delusional fool who does more harm than good for the people he tries to help. Despite daily robbings, the priest refuses to lock his door in the belief that resources should go to the ones who need it the most and, being sworn to a life of poverty, everyone needs his clothes and coins more than he does. That can be seen at different levels--while some deem Nazarín a "saint" others see his attitude as weakness and just take advantage of his generosity. The final alms-giving scene, in which the confused Nazarin is truly destitute himself, indicates that his previously proud "righteous" begging primarily serves to feed his own ego and represents little more than false humility--much like Simon's supreme asceticism freak shows in Simon in the Desert.

After befriending the suicidal Beatriz (Marga López), Nazarín inadvertently hides her sister Andara (Rita Macedo) when she is knifed by La Prieta (Rosenda Monteros) in a "cat" fight. The priest doesn't know what to do other than provide refuge, but this leads to eventual housefire disaster, and Nazarin hits the road with both Beatriz and Andara dolefully following like modern day disciples. Both women are devoted to him, and Nazarin dispenses spiritual counsel freely, as he does with the troubled Andara:

"What you've got is not witchcraft or demons. It's a well-known sickness which comes from the imagination. Through the imagination it must be cured. Besides a healthy life and exercise helps overcome sadness. Pray, and I say it'll go away."

"In the end, belief and the lack of it amount to the same thing. If someone were to prove to me--right this minute--that God, in all his luminousness, exists, it wouldn't change a single aspect of my behavior. I find it rather hard to believe that God is watching me every second, that he worries about my health, my desires, my mistakes."