Un Chien Andalou
In the film "Un
Chien Andalou" many things seemed odd to the
sense of someone who is more familiar with
modern day film. In this film, such things
had much correlations like" the Hole in the
hand with ants". Jesus Christ was the only
known person to have had this done....
The Ants were a lot like the group of people
in the street encircling the gentleman
playing with the hand.
Also, there was a point in the film where a
moth was shown, with a skull tattooed to its
head...giving the idea the man was evil.
Throughout the film, the man did negative
things to the woman, and also to the second
character that entered.
On another note, recognizing that the man not
only had the ants in the hand, but also
transformed from the moth...If we notice in
other films, such as the Exorcist 2 and the
X-files movie, we see how insects play a role
as being an evil doer.
Also, as eye appeal, we see at the beginning
of the film of how the razor cut the eyelid
was a bit in sync with the clouds "cutting"
though the moon.....shapes were the
correlation.
--John Bartruff, 2000
The movie "Un Chien Andalou" was a somewhat confusing and forced me
to look for connections between the images. The images were surprising
and shocking. The first image of the sliced eyeball was shocking and
unexpected. It was contrasted with the image of the moon being "sliced"
by the cloud. What was Bunuel trying to accomplish with these images.
Was he annoyed by the common pleasing images that other film makers
provided the audience. I feel that Bunuel was trying to change film so
that it would shock people and make them think rather that be
entertained and pleased. Seeing these disturbing images causes the
audience to step back and rethink what they know.
--Erica Ferry, 2000
Sitney points out that one of the results of this film was to move away
from the cause-effect demands of narrative. Since most spectators are
used to narratives, this film causes some disorientation at first because it
requires different connections from what we're used to. Can you see any benefit from escaping the confines of narrative?
--Hugh McCarney, 2000
There are many benefits from escaping the confines of narrative. This
allows the viewer to be exposed to something new and unfamiliar. In a
way, escaping narrative forces the viewer to question everything that they
know. Being exposed to a video with new structure and elements allows
people to explore their own mind more than they usually do. This new
"foreign" style of video gives people new ways and things to think about.
It allows them to have questions and in turn they will think more and
learn more about life and themselves. The only way to live life to it's
fullest is to continue to experience new things with an open mind.
--Erica Ferry, 2000
Bunuel's Un Chien Andalou, I found to be a correlation between humans
and insects. I noticed that Bunuel concentrated on insects in several
instances throughout the short film. The reoccurring instance of the ants
coming through the hole within the male figure's hand was often followed
by humans scurrying as the ants would. These humans were huddled in a
road as another figure poked the hand. As soon as the police came into
the scene, the humans dispersed and ran around as ants do. That
particular scene ends with one woman standing in the middle of the road
after all the others have run off. That one woman becomes hit by a car. I
found this to be a correlation to nature's life cycle. The entire group
scurried away, leaving this woman of whom dies at the hands of a
predator, the car.
Another insect correlation I noticed was the moth towards the end of the
work. The moth is placed on the wall and as the camera gets closer, a
face is upon it's back. That face eventually turns into a man, which I
found to symbolize a connection between the existence of the moth and
the man.
I found that the moth's life and the man's life were compared in a
manner so that the lives were essentially the same. What I mean by this
is that the entire film (I felt) concentrated on nature. The comparisons
between man and nature are clear with the ants and moth. However, the
moth is a direct comparison because it turns into the man. The
symbolism of this metamorphosis brings to light that we all are living
creatures and when it comes down to the bare minimum we all lead the
same lives.
--Eva Jones, 2000
The movie we watched in class today was "Un Chien Andalou". This movie
was directed by Bunuel and Dali. I though this movie was weird. To give an
example like when the guy was feeling up the women and he was turning
into a corpse.
I did not find a correlation between the humans and the ants when we
viewed the material.
I only understood the meaning of the movie when Professor McCarney
explained what the movie was about and reading other people conferences.
I am into the production end of the movie. I was fascinated on how they
used editing techniques and different camera angles to create a story.
--Helene Dacey, 2000
Helene's note raises a point which is very
important. This film is very sparse in its use of "effects". While there is
some slow motion, it depends primarily, as Helene mentions, on editing,
which is quite different from what we're used to in Hollywood films. Some
shot sequences are clearly related, but many image juxtapositions are
very abrupt and radical changes. How does this help to give the feel of a
dream?
--Hugh McCarney, 2000
I do not think I'm the only person who was confused by Bunuel's film. I
guess that I'm so used to seeing films totally unlike the ones we
watched today that it is hard for me to comprehend what is going on. I
think after we discussed this film, I felt that I understood a little bit
more but not enough to grasp Bunuel's concept. I just don't understand
what the plot was or even if there was a plot. Did anyone?
--Alyssa Miklinevich, 2001
I don't think there was a plot but then again I was just as confused as
you were. After we talked a little about it I understood that I needed to
look at Bunuel's short film with more of an open-mind as we needed to
in the other short film we watched in class. The movies we are used to
watching are much much different that I don't think I am as
open-minded as I need to be yet. Did anyone understand this one???
--Rebecca Sanders, 2001
I do agree that the book did help a great deal in explaining this film to
me. while i was watching the film i was trying to get adjusted to what has
happening on screen hat i missed some of what was going on. and
reading the book helped a great deal, in understanding what I saw and
how the film makers saw their work.
--Geysa Maldonado, 2001
Luis Bunuel Work
Salvador Dali Work