Whereas in America the idea of challenging social conventions was beginning to be downplayed to favor notions of conformity, Bunuel and other foreign directors continued to push the boundaries of the content and moral nature of their films rapidly moving the conversation of the role of society to the forefront.
Beyond anything else this film was a true slap in the face to the public. It challenged the socio-economic traditions that had survived for ages and were beginning to be dismantled in the 1930’s as the more and more industrialized and interconnected world devolved into a new social order. This is a film pushing the power of film as a means to challenge society.