I’ve posted on the surrealist film Un chien andalou which Luis Buñuel calls A desperate and passionate call to murder but want to pick up on it again to share some macabre and other details.

[Youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mBU4KQEWcw]

A ‘seduction’ scene

In this ‘seduction’ scene we see a man going after a woman, she recoils, he finally catches up with her and gropes for her breasts, she pushes him a way, but finally gives in overcome with desire, while he is stroking her breasts her dress disappears to reveal her naked body, causing him to gaze with pleasure into the void, she pushes him away a second time.

Imagine the scene: somewhere in 1929  Luis Buñuel is on set directing Simone Mareuil and Pierre Batcheff in the clip above. He has on a phonograph a recording of Richard Wagner‘s Liebestod which he plays on the background. Little did he know that both protagonists, in a bizarre twist of fate would later commit suicide. Pierre in 1932, Simone in 1954. Not an actual Liebestod, but macabre enough.

[Youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNC4kF1e470&NR=1]

Full clip with music by Mogwai

There is so much to be said of this film, watch it for the ‘razor slits the eyeball scene‘  or for some of the early uses of the jarring jump cut. Enjoy.