Un Chien Andalou (1929)

The short film is made up wholly of a number of surrealistic scenes- of which are almost unrelated from one another but from the main character thereby presenting itself as a dream like sequence.

The surrealist movement itself focuses on unconscious reality and how it is controlled by that of impulse over reason. One such scene that exemplifies this is that in which a male character attempts to rape a women. However in doing so he is constrained by a series of objects that prevent him: 2 stone tablets ( the 10 commandments), 2 priests; 2 pumpkins; 2 pianos and 2 dead donkeys. These are representative of reason which prevent acting upon impulse such as lust in this case. Religion being one of these constraints suggesting it provides morality.

Another running theme is pain and discomfort; scenes of laceration of the eyes and moon instantly conveying a reaction of unease amount the audience. this is further exemplified in the ant scene which plays on the senses and often creates a unconscious physical itch from the viewer.