Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A waking nightmare, 9 Oct 2006
Un Chien Andalou and L'age D'or embrace all the principles of surrealism, and are vivid examples of the power of cinema to express the power, uniqueness and oddness of dreams. If you're looking for a normal, Hollywood style, plot driven movie, then these films aren't for you - there is very little, if any, plot to either of the films, and searching for meaning or attempting to empathise with the characters will only cause confusion. Surrealist films are intended to be viewed as explorations of the unconscious, and as sets of images that may or may not have relevance to each other. They were also intended as a reaction against Hollywood and its mass market appeal.
The first film, Un Chien Andalou, is only 16 minutes long, and is not for the squeamish. Scenes of eyes being slashed with razor blades, ants crawling from hands, severed limbs, and decaying animal corpses are all shown in close-up, so be prepared. The film is a confusing, viscious assault on the senses, and touches upon ideas of death, rape, sex, sin, violence, etc.
L'age D'or is longer at 63 minutes, and unlike Un Chien Andalou, which was a huge commercial success, it was banned almost instantly due to its blasphemous attitude to religion. It shows various tabboo events, including a man shooting his son when he irritates him, and is generally unpleasant, though intriguing. This film was disowned by Dali, who broke off his partnership with Bunuel afterwards, as he felt that Bunuel had destroyed his vision and created a film which he hated.
Personally I found both movies difficult and unenjoyable to watch, but they are fascinating as works which provoke questions of desire, repression, the connection between the conscious and the unconscious, the placating power of Hollywood, and the eternal question: What is art? I would only recommend them to people who have an interest in such questions, or who particularly enjoy Surrealist works.
A final note: this DVD edition is excellent if you're interested in the history of surrealism, or the relationship between Bunuel and Dali, and will be a huge help to anyone studying it for university or for personal education. Both films have interesting and comprehensive commentaries by Robert Short (who, despite his comical tone, clearly knows what he's talking about), and in addition, the first disc also includes a long and interesting introduction by Short which deals with all aspects of Surrealism, from its beginnings in France with Breton, to the ambivalent attitude of the surrealists and of Bunuel himself to the success of the films. It also examines the symbolism within the films. Admittedly, it could have been more engaging, as it merely shows Short's head and shoulders throughout, and it would have been more watchable had they included some different images. There is also a documentary on Bunuel.
Enjoy!
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28 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
work it out for yourself, 7 Jul 2004
It is unecessary to attempt to understand what this film is about, i also think that it isnt completely necessary to use it as entertainment. Films made during the surrealist movement should be regarded as works of art and UN CHIEN ANDALOU is a work of pure unique genius on Bunuels part. Surrealism often represents the dream world and dreams very rarely make any sense or have any sort of linear narrative in real life. What they often do have is semiology. Many of the symbols in this film could be to do with sexual tension, such as the ants crawling out of the hand and the spacial discontinuity represents the dreamworld, ever had a dream when you are in a room which doesnt look anything like the room you are meant to be in but you know somehow that it just is? These ideas are all interpreted in this film.
It is my feeling that some of the best art ever made is that which was made during the surrealist movement as it allows you to interpret your own readings. UN CHIEN ANDALOU is a classic example of this.
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16 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Magnificent achievement!, 16 Dec 2000
By A Customer
One of the keynote products of the surrealist movement, made back in the days before Dali became an apologist for fascism and the Catholic Church. Oh how the mighty fell... Bunuel of course went on to make many more great movies. You have to see this film at least once - even if you don't like it, you'll never forget it!
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