266 of 1001 Movies: The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972)

It's difficult to watch a movie from Luis Bunel without taking a closer look at it, because you really have no idea what you were watching even if you think you do. I still don't really approach his movies with welcome though, but I do watch because well I do. The thing I think that makes his movies hard for me to watch is that he only focuses on what he hates, which tends to be two things, people like the bourgeoisie in this movie, and the Catholic church.

Summary: Rafael, an ambassador of Miranda, Simone and M. Thevonot, Florence, and Alice and Henri Senechal are all six middle-class people who constantly attempt to have a meal together. These meals are oddly interrupted by various events including one of the couples trying to have sex and keeping the party waiting, the arrival of a military, and the running out of tea at a restaurant. Along with the meals being interrupted there are a lot of dreams featured in the movie leaving you wonder which is a dream, and which isn't? With the way this group lives it's a wonder that it even matters though. The only thing they seem to be concerned about is that they could get trafficking drugs from Rafael.

39 of 1001 Movies: Un Chien Andalou (1929)

Salvador Dali and Luis Bunuel work together in their first film to bring me yet another weird viewing. Un Chien Andalou (An Andalusian Dog) is a step into the surreal world of Dali's mind as Bunuel directs it to life. As with L'Age D'or we have shocking scenes that leave the viewer probably more wide-eyed at what they are seeing than appalled. I couldn't turn away from this film, and thankfully unlike L'Age D'or I didn't feel like I was having to prepare myself to be offended. What is the point of this film though? For the someone more inclined to like the surreal then this will be right up their alley.

For a 1929 film I imagine this had to be shocking because I know it shocked me and I live in 2012. In the world I live in pornography is readily available, and violence is something that accompanies many of the movies we watch. Look at the recent box office hit Taken 2 for example. I've seen a few films from the 30s, and up through the 50s, and though I'm sure everyone knew what sex and violence were they definitely weren't quick to put it in their films. It wasn't until 1959 that people were actually voicing topics that involved things of a sexual nature with direct words about it. In this film we begin with a lady's eyeball being slit open. It's way more graphic than you would expect despite the fact it is only an animal's eyeball they pretended to use as a humans. We then move toward a scene where a lady finds a hand in the road, but the owner is nowhere to be seen. Though the hand looks fake there is just something really eerie about it.

Next up probably comes the most shocking scene I imagine seeing in it for anyone. I actually wasn't sure how to feel about it as the woman was obviously being violated. A man chases a woman around the apartment until she trapped into letting him fondle her. While fondling her it actually begins to show the woman naked, and him grasping her breasts and butt. I don't even know that I've seen anything like that in a film I've watched this year. I guess people would tell me I'm not watching that many films then. I think on top of the fact it was filmed in 1929 added to the shock value for me. It seems like most of the time we are constantly instilled that the early 1900s were more innocent in nature, and it's only recent times that people are beginning to explore promiscuity. The truth is people just didn't learn from the 60s and here on what they could do with their bodies. Maybe in America, but not in France.

For a film that is only around 20 minutes long I have to say that I almost have more to say about it than many I've watched. I can't say I particularly liked it, because there are some things that left me unsettled. As far as it's place in film history it definitely has some standing. The film probably won't make much sense to many viewers though. With it's take on being surreal that means many of the things allude to things within what is being seen.

Rating 2 of 5.

16 of 1001 Movies: L'Age D'or (1930)

Summary
This vague outline of a plot from Luis Bunuel follows two lovers who are trying to consummate their love. Their attempts are stopped by their families, the Roman church, and society. Surrealism is strong in this film that was wrote by Salvador Dali. Starring Gaston Modot, and Lya Lys.

My Thoughts
So as someone who does believe in Christ, and is a Christian this movie was highly offensive, and there was no way I could find a reason to like it. The negative was too huge to get past.  I've never been one to enjoy something that employs shock value to land itself on a list like this. This movie was even banned in American for 50 years, before it was allowed to be shown in theaters in 1979.

The story line isn't heavy, but it is present. For the first forty minutes the story plays out interestingly. There is no sign that some bizarre changes are about to arrive in the movie. In the beginning we get some odd bits of scorpions, and information about them, and then the story transitions to men running to the castles. We then see our two leads meet after arriving, and they begin making out right around the crowd of people. That was another problem I had with the movie. There is nothing redeeming about the two leads. They are two people who showcase little control over themselves to the point where they are trying to make love around a crowd of people. They will do anything, and everything to get their way.

At then it becomes really difficult to watch for me though. Anyone who is Christian will be offended. I just don't think there is any getting past that. For many they will probably be outraged over my ability to critique the film for just that, but I couldn't. The images that the director creates are really too offensive, and for me were not comedic at all. There are many scenes where he obviously seeks to hurt anyone who is has a belief in Christianity.

It's true that my perception of L'Age D'or (The Golden Age) was too badly harmed by the ending. I felt the scenery, and jabs were unneeded to make his point about sex, and his perspective on religion. There is a difference between going after the people who have offended you in a belief, and Christ. I couldn't recommend this movie to anyone for two scenes that still stand out to me alone.

Rating 1 of 5.