Krist Babani
History of Motion Pictures
Thomas Logoreci
Luis Bunuel once said: “Thank God I’m an atheist”. One interesting element found in the two films that we saw in class “Un Chien Andalou” and “Simon of the dessert” is religion. It is a common element these two films have. Even being an atheist, Luis Bunuel loved the idea of integrating religion in his movies. “Un Chien Andalou” was designed expressly to shock and provoke. Opening with the canonical eyeball-slashing sequence and divided into baffling "chapters", this is a work of art obsessed with religion, lust, decay, violence, and death. “Un Chien Andalou” isn't simply one of the great works of the surrealist movement, but a segment of cinematic DNA that irrevocably altered the aesthetics of film.
Simon of the Desert is Luis Bunuel's wicked and wild take on the life of devoted ascetic Saint Simeon Stylites, who waited atop a pillar surrounded by a barren landscape for six years, six months, and six days, in order to prove his devotion to God. Yet the devil, in the figure of the beautiful Silvia Pinal, huddles below, trying to tempt him down. A skeptic's vision of human conviction, Bunuel's short and sweet satire is one of the master filmmaker's most renowned works of surrealism. The two films are directed normally by Luis Bunuel. The running time for “Un Chien Andalou” is 21 minutes and “Simon of the desert” 45 minutes. Also, in “Un Chien Andalou” music is composed by Richard Wagner, while in “Simon of the desert” music is composed by Raul Lavista. In my opinion, one common element these two films have is the main genre that identifies them, which is satire. We can classify also both these two films in the genre of drama, another common element they have. Also other genres that personalize each film is in the case of “Un Chien Andalou” are fantasy, drama, silent film, short film. On the other hand, on “Simon of the desert” we have genres like surrealism, comedy, history, world cinema and art...