Surrealist Film Movement

Surrealist Film Movement

The surrealist film movement started in the 1920s in Paris, France. While it is debated when the movement ended, there is plenty of evidence that the style is influencing people.

Related to the the Dada movement, the Surrealist movement started in the late 1920s after WW1. The first surrealist film recorded was "The Seashell and the Clergyman" by Germaine Dulac. Surrealist films focus on the subconscious and uses techniques such as shocking imagery, juxtaposition and rejection of normality and logic.

A modern example of a surrealist film maker is David Lynch, an American director famous for the "Twin peaks" series and films such as "Rabbits". In "Rabbits", Lynch uses many techniques to create his surrealist feeling. The film is not always shown in chronological order, much like a dream, causing confusion as to the nature of the story. The movie sound is also a part of the surrealist film, with the characters line being projected in a voice over manner and the stereotypical sitcom audience laughter appearing at almost random points. In another part early on in the film, the setting suddenly turn red and a demonic voice can be heard as if just around the corner.

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