UN CHIEN ANDALOU

I just finished watching Un Chien Andalou……. and I’m at a lost for words. What do you think about the short film? Overall, I enjoyed it (even the beginning) my only complaint though is the background music. Thoughts? Comment? Please share!

http://mubi.com/films/294

It’s one of a few movies I can absolutely not wach a second time…

Check out graphic designer Saul Bass’ PHASE IV for an amazing sci-fi appropriation of the famous image of ants coming out of a human hand. Both films are stacked with surreal images.

This certainly burned itself deep into my mind when I saw the video box cover at my local rental store’s horror aisle as a child.

As pure surrealism, Un Chien Andalou is the best. Why? Because it’s short. Surrealism as film art becomes difficult for me once it passes a certain length, after which I begin to become very aware that I’m watching something that makes absolutely no sense at all, and that I’m not supposed to make sense of it, at which point I no longer want to watch. Bunuel and Dali’s film has the force and absurdity that great surrealism should have without overstaying it’s welcome. The images that they conjured up are often shocking (especially for their time) and memorable. Surrealism as an art movement is sort of a dead end street, at least from a critical perspective, so I’m not sure what else can be said for this movie. It is what it is, and what it is is impressive.

I liked the music alot. I thought the film was not only very bizarre and creative but kinda funny. It deffinitely has a sense of humor. I loved it.

I couldn’t get into the film. It feels a little long to me for such a short movie. Don’t get me wrong there are some extremely striking images but it did not impress me like it’s reputation suggests.