Review of Un Chien Andalou (1929) by Shawn B — 15 Sep 2010

Bunuel once said that cinema is the best instrument to express the world of dreams, of emotions, of instinct." With Un Chien Andalou, the only film I have seen from him so far, and it's a short 15 minutes, he is able to capture a dreamlike surrealism, that few filmmakers can do without seeming to be trying to capture a dreamlike surrealism. The way things are disorienting, but are able to have continuity only through having the same characters throughout, allows Bunuel to truly make this world unlike our world, but how one might imagine it would look if you were to watch someone else's dreams...or nightmares. The classic eye cutting scene is quick, but horrific to say the least.

Bunuel was able to pack more subtext in 15 minutes of film than most directors can do in 3 hours. Certainly a precursor to the dreamscape of David Lynch, Un Chien Andalou is really and unusually captivating. I already want to rewatch it and see what I find.