Surrealist Cinema

Michael Summers

Michael Summers

Well-known member
can anyone reccomend some crazy surrealist movies for me? I'm starting to take quite an interest in films like eraserhead and naked lunch.
 
Duuuuuudddde. :laugh: :beer:

Cronenberg isn;t surrealist cinema

I can't think of any; but Wiki has some good information on the movement including this interesting bite:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrealism#Surrealism_in_television

'...Some have described David Lynch as a Surrealist filmmaker. He has never participated in the Surrealist movement or in any Surrealist activity, but there are arguably some aspects of many of his films that are of Surrealist interest, although - despite his work's superficial resemblance to many of the Surrealist images - his overall vision tends to be socially conservative, which is not an ideal promoted by Surrealism at large...'


Also (Turn down speakers; annoying)

http://wayney.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/surreal.htm

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Lynch. I am torn on Lynch. Not a fan really although I have liked some of his work; Blue Velvet was interesting although I find myself TRYING to like it more than I do; Twin Peaks some of the more original television program ever to air and The Elephant Man I always loved. The rest has been a kind of, eh....

Self Indulgent Overrated Cultish Crap

Let's talk about it
 
john- thats a great link, thanks. I saw eraserhead and i was just in awe of such a visually and aurally surreal materpiece. nothing short of perfect. It's like everyone is tripping on acid, and consideration is non-existant. every character has an extreme mood disorder-but are these disorders real or just a product of society? The lighting defies reality completely, an ersatz source of light in every shot. I thought of it more as fragmented metaphors rather than an actual reality.

however, i wasnt a fan of blue velvet. did not really like it at all. loved the elephant man, lost highway and mullholland drive though. his animation is especially trippy also.

btw, videodrome wasnt really surrealistic cinema... neither is anything that cronenberg has done.

oh, and brazil was crazy, too.
 
You might try the Cremaster 3 by Matthew Barney. It is only a small section of the actual film, but pretty surreal. I have heard mention that eventaully all 6 films from the Cremaster series will be released, but I have no idea when.
You might also try this film "Awake". I have heard it's allright, and many have described it as a surreal experience. I even heard that the film maker comes on this site every now and then.

:)
 
The journey that James Woods goes on in "Videodrome" is as surreal and hallicunatory as it gets. Yeah, on a whole, Cronenberg's body of work is not surreal, but if you don't think "Videodrome" is surreal, IDK what you're watching.

And you, yourself, mentioned "naked lunch" and if you didnt know that was directed by Cronenberg.
 
I'm not sure what the criteria is for surrealists films but I love "Songs From the Second Floor". If you like strange and twisted, this is a good one. Interesting thing about this film is the camera is always stationary (actually I think one shot isn't). The camera is just set for each scene and doesn't move, so it's all like a bizzare portrait. I love the look of this film. From Sweden.

I also enjoy the Brothers Quay shorts (stop-motion)
or Jan Svankmejer

Other films:

Un chien andalou

City of Lost Children (not really surrealists but kind of odd movie)
 
Have you seen the 4 HOUR directors cut of "Brazil".... WOW, insane!
I think criterion put it out, its like $65.
I can only sit through that once.
 
Filmjunkie677 said:
The journey that James Woods goes on in "Videodrome" is as surreal and hallicunatory as it gets. Yeah, on a whole, Cronenberg's body of work is not surreal, but if you don't think "Videodrome" is surreal, IDK what you're watching.

And you, yourself, mentioned "naked lunch" and if you didnt know that was directed by Cronenberg.
Click to expand...

ya i knew but i thought it was probably his most surreal movie and he has turned away from the genre now. i regard videodrome as more of a horror flick.
 
You know that Lynch was going to direct "Return of the Jedi" until "Dune" was fast-tracked? Can you imagine a Star Wars film with his personal stamp on it?

BTW, I've grown to love Lynche's original cut of "Dune" in a way that's hard to explain and harder to defend... better art design than any of the recent attempts via the Sci Fi Channels miniseries. He nailed that universe.

Jim Arthurs
 
Jim Arthurs said:
You know that Lynch was going to direct "Return of the Jedi" until "Dune" was fast-tracked? Can you imagine a Star Wars film with his personal stamp on it?

BTW, I've grown to love Lynche's original cut of "Dune" in a way that's hard to explain and harder to defend... better art design than any of the recent attempts via the Sci Fi Channels miniseries. He nailed that universe.

Jim Arthurs
Click to expand...

i still have to seen dune, but if he directed star wars, it would have been an amazing move.
 
Jim Arthurs said:
You know that Lynch was going to direct "Return of the Jedi" until "Dune" was fast-tracked? Can you imagine a Star Wars film with his personal stamp on it?

Jim Arthurs
Click to expand...

Are you kidding me? That would've been sick!
 
Check out Bunuel, one of the few "masters" of the Cinema.

Best Films Include:

Un chien andalou*
The Exterminating Angel*
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie*
Belle de jour*
The Phantom of Liberty
Âge d'or, L'

They're foreign films, so if subtitles aren't your thing, then stay away.

Otherwise, you might want to check them out.

I might also suggest Fellini, another "master".

His best and some of his most surreal films include:

8 1/2*
Juliet of the Spirits*
Satyricon

Mind you, these are "art" films. If it's not your cup of tea then...stay away.

I'll try to think of some more for ya. :beer:

*Favorites
 
i saw 8 1/2 and it didn't really do anything for me (yes i know, thats a very heavy statement, and bound to make some people mad.)

i cant wait to rent all of these reccomendations over the next year. its definately something i want to get into and practice with 16mm.
 
this thread prompted me to do a little research and apparently a number of the Robert Corman produced films are considered be "surrealist", and here's the kicker (which will probably get me banned from these boards forever):

of the 366 Corman produced films, it looks like I might have only seen one!! (which is odd because he's done several based on Poe stories, which I'd also like to do)


Any of you guys have any Corman recommendations?
 
Super Trooper's got it. I was shocked to go through 15 posts about surrealist film with no mention of Bunuel. All of those films mentioned are must-see. Although unless you enjoy eyeballs getting sliced by razors and weird stuff like that, Un Chien Andelou probably isn't your cup of tea (it isn't mine either). But the others are great. Especially Belle De Jour. Another great one not mentioned is That Obscure Object of Desire. Two actresses playing the same character. Good stuff.
 
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