Un Chien Andalou (An Andulsian Dog) - A 1929 Film - directed by Luis Buñuel with script cowritten by Salvador Dali - 16 minutes

 Available on YouTube with English Captions 

Chien Andalou is a 1929 French silent short film directed, produced and edited by Luis Buñuel, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Salvador Dalí. Buñuel's first film, it was initially released in a limited capacity at Studio des Ursulines in Paris, but became popular and ran for eight months. 

The film is a series of unconnected images and scenes that explore the subconscious mind and the irrational. It is often shocking and disturbing, and it has been interpreted in many different ways.

One of the most famous scenes in the film is the opening scene, in which a man cuts a woman's eye with a razor. 

Other scenes in the film include a man dragging a piano down a street, a woman's hand being covered in ants, and a man being attacked by a swarm of locusts. These scenes are all surreal and disturbing, and they create a sense of unease and anxiety in the viewer.

Un Chien Andalou has been interpreted in many different ways. Some critics see it as a commentary on the irrationality of the human mind. Others see it as a reflection of Buñuel's and Dalí's own personal obsessions and anxieties.

Luis Buñuel Portolés (22 February 1900 – 29 July 1983) was a Spanish filmmaker who worked in France, Mexico, and Spain. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers of all time. Buñuel's works were known for their avant-garde surrealism, often infused with political commentary.

Buñuel was born in Calanda, Spain, into a wealthy family. He received a strict Jesuit education, which sowed the seeds of his lifelong obsession with religion and subversive behavior. After moving to Madrid to study philosophy and literature, Buñuel became involved in the Spanish Surrealist movement. In 1929, he collaborated with Salvador Dalí on the short film Un Chien Andalou, which is considered to be one of the most important Surrealist films ever made.

After the Spanish Civil War, Buñuel fled to Mexico, where he made a number of films, including Los olvidados (1950) and El (1952). These films are considered to be masterpieces of Mexican cinema, and they helped to establish Buñuel's reputation as one of the world's leading filmmakers.

In the 1960s, Buñuel returned to Europe, where he made a number of his most acclaimed films, including Viridiana (1961), Belle de Jour (1967), and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972). These films are known for their subversive humor, their exploration of taboo subjects, and their challenging and innovative filmmaking techniques.

Buñuel died in Mexico City in 1983 at the age of 83. He left behind a body of work that is considered to be among the most important and influential in the history of cinema.

Some of Buñuel's most notable films include:

Un Chien Andalou (1929)

L'Âge d'or (1930)

Los olvidados (1950)

Viridiana (1961)

Belle de Jour (1967)

The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972)

Tristana (1970)

The Phantom of Liberty (1974)

This Obscure Object of Desire (1977)

Buñuel's films continue to be studied and admired by filmmakers and film scholars alike. His work has had a profound influence on generations of filmmakers, including Jean-Luc Godard, David Lynch, " From Bard 

In time I hope to view all of these films

One interpretation of the film is that it is a metaphor for the sexual act. The image of the man slicing the woman's eye could be seen as a representation of the male penetration of the female. The image of the woman walking down the street with a severed hand in her pocket could be seen as a representation of female castration.

Another interpretation of the film is that it is a commentary on the nature of reality. The film's dreamlike imagery could be seen as a way of exploring the idea that reality is not always what it seems. The image of the cloud cutting the moon in half could be seen as a representation of the fragility of reality.

Land Without Bread (Las Hur Des) - A 1933 Documentary directed by Luis Bunuel - 30 Minutes

Available on YouTube with English Captions

 Land Without Bread (Las Hur Des) - A 1933 Documentary directed by Luis Bunuel - 30 Minutes

The film focuses on Las Hurdes, a remote and impoverished region in western Spain, capturing the harsh living conditions and struggles of its inhabitants. We see their basic necessities like clean water and nutritious food being scarce, their homes being simple and often dilapidated, and their livelihood relying on backbreaking labor and traditional 

Buñuel's approach is what makes the film truly unique and thought-provoking. He blends documentary elements with surrealist touches, blurring the lines between reality and artistic interpretation. The narration, often deadpan and detached, contrasts with the stark visuals of poverty and hardship. He also incorporates jarring juxtapositions, like shots of starving children next to scenes of religious processions.

Land Without Bread was met with mixed reactions upon its release. Some praised its unflinching portrayal of social injustice, while others criticized it for its bleakness and perceived manipulation of the truth. The Spanish government even banned the film for several years, fearing it would damage the country's image.

Despite the controversy, Land Without Bread remains a significant work of cinema. It challenged audiences to confront uncomfortable realities and sparked conversations about poverty, inequality, and the role of art in social critique.

The film was originally silent, with Buñuel himself providing narration at screenings. A French narration was later added in 1935.

The film's score features excerpts from Johannes Brahms' Symphony No. 4, creating a haunting and ironic contrast to the visuals.

Buñuel has admitted to staging some scenes for dramatic effect, further blurring the lines between documentary and fiction.

Luis Buñuel Portolés (22 February 1900 – 29 July 1983) was a Spanish filmmaker who worked in France, Mexico, and Spain. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers of all time. Buñuel's works were known for their avant-garde surrealism, often infused with political commentary.

Buñuel was born in Calanda, Spain, into a wealthy family. He received a strict Jesuit education, which sowed the seeds of his lifelong obsession with religion and subversive behavior. After moving to Madrid to study philosophy and literature, Buñuel became involved in the Spanish Surrealist movement. In 1929, he collaborated with Salvador Dalí on the short film Un Chien Andalou, which is considered to be one of the most important Surrealist films ever made.

After the Spanish Civil War, Buñuel fled to Mexico, where he made a number of films, including Los olvidados (1950) and El (1952). These films are considered to be masterpieces of Mexican cinema, and they helped to establish Buñuel's reputation as one of the world's leading filmmakers.

In the 1960s, Buñuel returned to Europe, where he made a number of his most acclaimed films, including Viridiana (1961), Belle de Jour (1967), and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972). These films are known for their subversive humor, their exploration of taboo subjects, and their challenging and innovative filmmaking techniques.

Buñuel died in Mexico City in 1983 at the age of 83. He left behind a body of work that is considered to be among the most important and influential in the history of cinema.

Some of Buñuel's most notable films include:

Un Chien Andalou (1929)

L'Âge d'or (1930)

Los olvidados (1950)

Viridiana (1961)

Belle de Jour (1967)

The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972)

Tristana (1970)

The Phantom of Liberty (1974)

This Obscure Object of Desire (1977)

Buñuel's films continue to be studied and admired by filmmakers and film scholars alike. His work has had a profound influence on generations of filmmakers, including Jean-Luc Godard, David Lynch, " From Bard 

In time I hope to view all of films above.

Nazarin - A 1959 Film Directed by Luis Buñuel- 94 Minutes

 Available on YouTube with English Subtitles 

Earlier this month I watched my first film directed Luis Buñuel, 

Los Olvidados - The Young and The Dammed.  Similar to this movie, Nazarin is powerful vision of life among Mexico's poorest citizens, especially the women, focusing on a priest.

Nazarín is a 1959 Mexican  drama film directed by Luis Buñuel and co-written between Buñuel and Julio Alejandro, adapted from the eponymous novel of Benito Pérez Galdós. It tells the story of Padre Nazario, a Catholic priest who lives in a poor hostel in the Mexican countryside. He is a kind and compassionate man, but his beliefs and practices are often met with hostility and ridicule.

The film is a powerful indictment of the hypocrisy of organized religion and the ways in which it is often used to oppress the poor and vulnerable. Nazario is a Christ-like figure who is persecuted for his beliefs. He is eventually driven out of town and forced to live a life of poverty and exile.

The film is also a meditation on the nature of faith and the challenges of living a truly Christian life. Nazario is a man of deep faith, but he is also a flawed human being. He makes mistakes and is often tempted by the world around him. However, he never gives up on his beliefs, even when they lead him to suffering.

Nazarín was a critical and commercial success. It was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 1959 Cannes Film Festival, and it won the International Prize. The film has been praised for its social commentary, its exploration of faith, and its visual style.

The film was controversial in Mexico at the time of its release. The Catholic Church was critical of the film's portrayal of religion, and the government was concerned about its political implications. However, the film was also a commercial success, and it helped to establish Buñuel as a major director in Mexico.

Nazarín is considered to be one of Buñuel's greatest films

Mel Ulm

Los Olvidados - The Young and The Dammed- A Film Directed by Luis Buñuel-1950 - 76 Minutes

 

Los Olvidados (1950), also known as The Young and the Damned, is a Mexican crime drama film directed by Luis Buñuel. It is considered to be one of the greatest Mexican films ever made, and is widely praised for its unflinching portrayal of poverty, violence, and juvenile delinquency.

The film tells the story of a group of impoverished children living in the slums of Mexico City. The leader of the group, El Jaibo, is a violent and vindictive young man who is determined to rise above his circumstances. He is eventually killed in a fight, but his death is only the beginning of the film's tragic climax.

Los Olvidados is a deeply pessimistic film that offers no easy solutions to the problems it depicts. However, it is also a powerful and moving work of art that gives a voice to the voiceless and shines a light on the darkest corners of society.

Buñuel was a master of using cinema to explore the dark side of human nature, and Los Olvidados is one of his most powerful and disturbing films.

"Luis Buñuel Portolés (22 February 1900 – 29 July 1983) was a Spanish filmmaker who worked in France, Mexico, and Spain. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers of all time. Buñuel's works were known for their avant-garde surrealism, often infused with political commentary.

Buñuel was born in Calanda, Spain, into a wealthy family. He received a strict Jesuit education, which sowed the seeds of his lifelong obsession with religion and subversive behavior. After moving to Madrid to study philosophy and literature, Buñuel became involved in the Spanish Surrealist movement. In 1929, he collaborated with Salvador Dalí on the short film Un Chien Andalou, which is considered to be one of the most important Surrealist films ever made.

After the Spanish Civil War, Buñuel fled to Mexico, where he made a number of films, including Los olvidados (1950) and El (1952). These films are considered to be masterpieces of Mexican cinema, and they helped to establish Buñuel's reputation as one of the world's leading filmmakers.

In the 1960s, Buñuel returned to Europe, where he made a number of his most acclaimed films, including Viridiana (1961), Belle de Jour (1967), and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972). These films are known for their subversive humor, their exploration of taboo subjects, and their challenging and innovative filmmaking techniques.

Buñuel died in Mexico City in 1983 at the age of 83. He left behind a body of work that is considered to be among the most important and influential in the history of cinema.

Some of Buñuel's most notable films include:

Un Chien Andalou (1929)

L'Âge d'or (1930)

Los olvidados (1950)

Viridiana (1961)

Belle de Jour (1967)

The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972)

Tristana (1970)

The Phantom of Liberty (1974)

This Obscure Object of Desire (1977)

Buñuel's films continue to be studied and admired by filmmakers and film scholars alike. His work has had a profound influence on generations of filmmakers, including Jean-Luc Godard, David Lynch, " From Bard 

In time I hope to view all of films above.