Tag: Surreal
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LE CHARME DISCRET DE LA BOURGEOISIE aka THE DISCREET CHARM OF THE BOURGEOISIE
“The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie” is a 1972 surreal satirical comedy directed by Luis Buñuel in which a group of affluent friends repeatedly attempt—and continually fail—to sit down and enjoy a proper dinner together. Through a series of absurd interruptions, dreams within dreams, and bizarre coincidences, Luis Buñuel constructs a sharp critique of upper-middle-class…
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PIONT BLANK
“Point Blank” is a 1967 neo-noir thriller directed by John Boorman, who made his American debut with this film. It is considered one of the most visually inventive crime films of its time. Starring Lee Marvin in one of his most iconic performances, the film combines a hard-boiled revenge narrative with avant-garde cinematic experimentation. This…
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FELLINI SATYRICON
“Fellini Satyricon” is a surreal and dreamlike film directed by Federico Fellini in 1969. It is loosely based on the fragmented ancient Roman text “Satyricon” by Gaius Petronius Arbiter, a courtier during Emperor Nero’s reign. Instead of providing a faithful adaptation, Fellini transforms Petronius’s episodic satire into a phantasmagoric journey through the decaying grandeur of…
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CALMOS aka FEMME FATALES (NSFW)
Calmos (also known as Femme Fatales, 1976), written and directed by Bertrand Blier, is a surreal and satirical comedy that takes the classic “battle of the sexes” trope and pushes it to absurd extremes with a dreamlike logic. The film begins with Paul (Jean-Pierre Marielle), a Parisian gynecologist who is exhausted and disillusioned after years…
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LA PLANÉTE SAUVAGE aka FANTASTIC PLANET
“La Planète sauvage” (also known as “Fantastic Planet”) is a 1973 René Laloux-directed French-Czechoslovak animated allegory set on the strange world of Ygam, home to the gigantic, blue-skinned alien species known as the Draags. Humanity—here called the Oms—are tiny, animal-like beings, often kept as pets or exterminated as pests. The film follows an Om named…
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2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
“2001: A Space Odyssey” is a 1968 groundbreaking science fiction epic directed by Stanley Kubrick and written by Kubrick, along with acclaimed science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke, that redefined the genre and filmmaking itself. Deeply philosophical and visually stunning, the film delves into themes of human evolution, artificial intelligence, space exploration, and the boundaries…
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SISTER MIDNIGHT
“Sister Midnight” (2024) is a darkly comic, surreal horror-drama written and directed by Karan Kandhari in his feature debut. The film stars Radhika Apte, alongside Ashok Pathak, Chhaya Kadam, and Smita Tambe. Set in the dense, chaotic sprawl of Mumbai, the film blends deadpan humor, social satire, and grotesque fantasy to explore alienation, repression, and…
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EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT SEX (BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK)
“Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask)” is a 1972 American comedy anthology film written, directed, and starring Woody Allen. The film is a loose adaptation — more like a parody — of Dr. David Reuben’s best-selling sex manual of the same name, transforming clinical questions into a series…
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ENYS MEN
“Enys Men” (Cornish for “Stone Island”) is a surreal, slow-burning folk horror film released in 2022. It was written, directed, and edited by Mark Jenkin, known for his work on “Bait.” The film is shot on 16mm film, giving it a grainy, analog aesthetic, and is set in 1973 on an isolated, uninhabited island off…
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OPENING NIGHT
“Opening Night” is a 1977 raw, emotionally charged drama directed by John Cassavetes, starring Gena Rowlands in one of her most complex and celebrated roles. The film delves into the psychological unraveling of a stage actress confronting a personal and professional crisis as she prepares for the premiere of a new play. Set primarily within…
