ecclesiastical authority

His masterpiece 'The Passion of Joan of Arc' examines the clash between individual faith and institutional ecclesiastical power through an intimate exploration of religious martyrdom.

Throughout his career, particularly in films like 'Viridiana' and 'The Milky Way,' Buñuel systematically critiques ecclesiastical hypocrisy and the corruption of religious authority.

His films 'Spotlight' (as producer) and earlier works challenge institutional religious power structures and expose how ecclesiastical authority can conceal and enable abuse.