6. Un Chien Andalou
Un Chien Andalou is a short film that was made in 1920s France. It's the brainchild of Salvador Dali and features one of the most gruesome match shots in film history, that of a razor going through a woman's eye. Is there anything else you really need to know? It's a collaboration between artist Dali and filmmaker Buñuel (who went on to direct a number of surrealist classics, such as The Exterminating Angel and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie). They made the film to resemble the surreal nature of a dream, so there is no traditional linear story line to speak of. Although there isn't a clear plot to follow, Un Chien Andalou manages to illicit an unexpected emotional reaction from the viewer. It uses Freudian free association to great success, using the medium of film to match concepts and images in an unprecedented fashion. There's something refreshing about a film made by someone whose mission statement was: "No idea or image that might lend itself to a rational explanation of any kind would be accepted." Really, what's not to love?