Film Art and Cinematography : What counts as a 'surrealist film'?

What counts as a 'surrealist film'?

I read how Belle de Jour is suppose to be surreal, but not sure how it counts. A movie like The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie is obvious, but how weird an over the top does a movie have to be count as surreal?

I would say Oldboy is surreal, but is it, for example? Or would La Dolce Vita count as a surrealist film, even though it's never called one?

Re: What counts as a 'surrealist film'?

David Lynch's Eraser Head



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Re: What counts as a 'surrealist film'?

Oh yeah for sure, Eraserhead is very obvious But I read that La Dolce Vita is a surreal film. What about that one counts as a surreal film?

Re: What counts as a 'surrealist film'?

La Dolce Vita has elements of surrealism (such as the statue of Christ) but they’re grounded in what comes across as a more conventional look at celebrity. Although I’m not a fan of Fellini I prefer this approach while the above mentioned Eraserhead shows how a film can thrive within its self created reality (even though I prefer the surreal elements of The Elephant Man).

Re: What counts as a 'surrealist film'?

Oh okay but how is the statue of christ surreal though? Isn't a statue of Christ being moved, physically possible in the real world?

Re: What counts as a 'surrealist film'?

There are elements of unintended surrealism in the real world but the idea of Christ flying to The Vatican is a magical concept even though we don’t actually see it in the same shot as The Vatican.

Re: What counts as a 'surrealist film'?

Oh okay but I thought in order for it to count as surrealist, it has to have things that couldn't possibly happen in, or wouldn't logically happen.

Re: What counts as a 'surrealist film'?

Like a lot of things, it can exist on a spectrum.

Re: What counts as a 'surrealist film'?

Oh okay, that makes sense. What about a movie like Citizen Kane, is that surreal?

Re: What counts as a 'surrealist film'?

Not at all.

Re: What counts as a 'surrealist film'?

It does have a touch of surrealism (the opening is a great example) and then there are the pterodactyls glimpsed during the beach party sequence.

Re: What counts as a 'surrealist film'?

Most of David Lynch's films could be labeled that way. Only The Elephant Man, and The Straight Story are even close to being 'normal'
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