Initial Reaction to Un Chien Andalou

To say that Un Chien Andalou is a very unique film would be to put it very mildly. It is less a film than sixteen minutes of strange, somewhat connected images and moments. These different images invoke all sorts of emotional responses from the audience. That is, whenever the audience has understood the fact that there isn't a story to understand with this film. The emotional impact is difficult to receive when the viewer is so confused by the film, which is unfortunate because it is extremely difficult to not be confused, especially on the first viewing. further viewings would likely make it easier to feel these emotional moments, but not to understand the film itself.

The film seems to have little purpose as a movie. It seems as though the director filmed a dream he once had. There are several images that are surrealistic, and several that simply don't make sense. The film jumps back and forth through time, but it is difficult to understand why because the time has no effect on the film. There is likely a purpose to the film, but it is difficult to find with all of the strange occurrences that are going on in the film.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

"The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" is a very interesting film. It is very unique in both its story and style. The film is about a man named Dr. Caligari who sets up a booth at a carnival where he will show off his new attraction, a somnambulist named Cesare. Cesare has been asleep for his whole life, and thus has special abilities, such as the ability to predict the future. At the show, he predicts that a man will only survive until dawn. Surely enough, the man is murdered that night. The victim's best friend then begins to suspect that the somnambulist, and Caligari himself, may be involved with the murder.


The film is very unique in its art direction. The buildings are shaped in such a way that they would be physically impossible to exist in the real world. This gives the film a dreamlike quality. The film is not shooting to feel realistic, but instead to feel surrealistic. Objects have strange corners and are tilted at strange angles throughout the film. Once you understand this, it is easier to just go along for the ride.


While today's films don't take so many of the surrealistic cues from this film, there are other artistic qualities that are still used today. One example of this is in the film's use of shadows. Many of the most frightening and violent moments are shown by the characters' shadows instead of the characters themselves. This is often used as a way to cover up graphic violence, but in this film it is exclusively for artistic purposes.


On a personal level, I thoroughly enjoyed the film. Once I got used to the strange art direction, it was a very dark and entertaining film that serves as a precursor to today's Tim Burton films. The cinematography is very creepy and, along with the art direction, helps the viewer to feel unsettled by the events that are occurring. Though it is a silent film, "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" is very entertaining and has much influence on modern horror.