Category: Surrealist
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AFTER HOURS
“After Hours,” a 1985 film directed by Martin Scorsese, is a darkly comedic and surreal exploration of urban anxiety and existential frustration. Set over the course of one harrowing night in New York City’s SoHo district, the film follows mild-mannered word processor Paul Hackett (Griffin Dunne), whose innocent quest for a casual date spirals into…
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SHORT FILM: FANTASMAGORIE
“Fantasmagorie” is widely considered the first fully animated film in history. It was created by French cartoonist and animator Émile Cohl in 1908 and runs for approximately one minute and forty five seconds . This silent, experimental short film is a pioneering work in hand-drawn animation and a landmark in early cinema. The film opens…
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SZERELMEM, ELEKTRA aka ELECTRA, MY LOVE
‘Electra, My Love’ (Szerelmem, Elektra) is a 1974 visually stunning and politically charged Hungarian film directed by Miklós Jancsó. Known for his long takes and choreographed movement, Jancsó reinterprets the classic Greek myth of Electra as an allegory of revolution, oppression, and hope. The film is notable for being shot in just 12 long takes,…
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AMARCORD
Amarcord is a 1973 film directed by Federico Fellini, it stars Bruno Zanin, Pupella Maggio, Armando Brancia, Magali Noël, and Ciccio Ingrassia. “Amarcord” (which means “I Remember” in the dialect of Rimini, Fellini’s hometown) is a semi-autobiographical, coming-of-age film that nostalgically and surrealistically portrays life in a small Italian coastal town during the 1930s under…
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SHORT FILM: INAUGURATION OF THE PLEASURE DOME
“Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome” is a short avant-garde film directed by Kenneth Anger in 1954. The film vividly explores mythological, historical, and occult figures engaging in ritualistic and hedonistic ceremonies. Anger drew inspiration from Aleister Crowley’s Thelemic philosophies and a Halloween party-themed “Come as your Madness,” hosted by artist Renate Druks. The film features…
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ERASERHEAD
“Eraserhead” (1977) is a surrealist horror film directed by David Lynch in his feature-length debut. Known for its disturbing imagery, haunting sound design, and ambiguous narrative, the film has become a cult classic and is considered one of Lynch’s most iconic works. The story follows Henry Spencer, played by Jack Nance, an awkward and reclusive…
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SHORT FILM: THE FROG (1908)
The Frog (1908), directed by Segundo de Chomón, is a silent, surreal short film that blends early special effects with whimsical storytelling. The film begins with a magician performing a series of tricks in front of an audience. As the magician conjures a variety of objects, one of his creations is a small frog that…
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SHORT FILM: SCORPIO RISING
“Scorpio Rising” is a groundbreaking 1963 experimental short film directed by Kenneth Anger. The film explores themes of rebellion, sexuality, and the intersection of popular culture and subversive iconography. “Scorpio Rising” is a non-narrative film that conveys its themes through visual symbolism, pop music, and a provocative editing style. The film is divided into several…
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BEING JOHN MALKOVICH
“Being John Malkovich” is a 1999 darkly comedic and surreal film directed by Spike Jonze and written by Charlie Kaufman. The film explores identity, consciousness, and the human desire for connection and control. The story centers on Craig Schwartz (John Cusack), a struggling puppeteer living in New York City with his pet-obsessed wife, Lotte (Cameron…
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SHORT FILM: THE ARGUMENT
“The Argument,” a short film directed by Donald Cammell and edited by Frank Mazzola, is an experimental piece that was filmed in 1971 but remained unfinished until 1999. The film centers on an intense and enigmatic dialogue between two characters, a man and a woman, whose identities and relationships remain deliberately ambiguous. Set within the…
The Other Cinema 