10 Surreal Films by Salvador Dalí

Most people know the artist extraordinaire to be a painter, but little do people know about Dalí’s ventures into films. The persistence of memory famed artist is known to be, well, a little bit weird, and if you’re someone who resonates with his art and lifestyle, you would definitely dig his movies. So, we at Abir Pothi, have combined a list of movies that have the creative inputs by Salvador Dalí down below:

1. Un Chien Andalou

Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dalí collaborated to make the surrealist film “Un Chien Andalou” in 1929. Written in a mere six days, the script attempted to subvert conventional narrative and reasoning by incorporating the couple’s dreams and feelings. The movie has dreamy, surreal moments, such as the well-known eye-slicing scene and other strange visuals. It was unexpectedly well-received at its premiere by artists such as André Breton and Picasso, who invited it to join the Surrealist movement.

2. L’Âge d’Or

Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dalí travelled to Cadaqués in 1929 to begin writing the script for their film, which was originally going to be called “La Bête andalouse.” When the movie, subsequently dubbed “L’Âge d’or,” was shown in private in Paris in October 1930, its content caused a stir. Critics saw it as a critique of cultural values, such as the nation, family, religion, and social traditions, which led to disruptions and calls for a ban. With the movie, Buñuel hoped to transform society’s contradictory values.

3. Spellbound

Salvador Dalí and Alfred Hitchcock worked together on the 1945 movie “Spellbound,” with Dalí adding his own artistic vision to the dream sequence. Dalí was given artistic leeway by Hitchcock, who needed his expertise to convey the vividness of dreams. Budgetary restrictions forced a 20-minute dream scenario to be cut down to a shorter length. Dalí was disappointed that several of his intricate concepts were not used. In spite of this, “Spellbound” won an Academy Award for its soundtrack and was well-received by critics. Even though Dalí rarely talked about his role in the movie after it was released, his dream sequence is nevertheless a powerful illustration of his artistic talent.

4. Destino

Together with Walt Disney, Salvador Dalí created a short animated picture in 1946 called “Destino,” which focused on the value of time and destiny. Financial difficulties forced the project’s original suspension, but it was resurrected and finished in 2003. Directed by Dominique Monféry, the seven-minute video combined traditional and computer animation, drawing inspiration from Dalí’s original storyboards. It depicts Dahlia and Chronos’ sad love tale in bizarre, Dalí-inspired settings. Despite having little opportunity to work with Disney, Dalí’s distinct artistic vision had a lasting influence on the film industry, producing classic Surrealist images.

5. Chaos and Creation

The 1960 film “Chaos and Creation,” which was co-directed by Salvador Dalí and photographer Philippe Halsman, presented Dalí’s post-Freudian artistic vision informed by scientific discoveries and the work of Heisenberg. It was showcased at a convention for visual communications. Piet Mondrian’s abstract painting serves as an illustration of Dalí’s critique of modern art’s logic and his paranoiac-critical technique, which are both highlighted in this lecture-style film.

6. Dalí in New York

Salvador Dalí converses with Jane Arden about his artistic concept in the Jack Bond-directed film from 1965. The documentary highlights Dalí’s interest in using video for self-promotion while showcasing other parts of his life in New York City, such as writing books, exhibitions, and flamenco performances.

7. Screen Tests de Salvador Dalí

Using a static Bolex camera, Andy Warhol made about 500 Screen Tests of different people between 1964 and 1966, including Salvador Dalí. Prominent artists were shown in slow motion in these silent, surreal films. In two distinct four-minute Screen Tests of Dalí, Warhol paid homage to the artist’s influence on his work by inverting the camera and showcasing his departure. In the 1960s, these films were periodically screened at Warhol’s Factory parties.

8. Autoportrait mou de Salvador Dalí

Jean-Christophe Averty’s self-portrait of Salvador Dalí is a distinctive fusion of video art, documentary, and biography. It shows Dalí talking about his life, his creative process, and his controversial ideas. It was filmed at his Portlligat residence. The film has an interview with Averty that delves into topics such as prenatal life, childbirth trauma, and the significance of Dalí’s well-known pieces. It is enhanced by artistic performances and archive footage.

9. Impressions de la Haute Mongolie – Hommage à Raymond Roussel

Co-directed by José Montes-Baquer, “Impressions de la Haute Mongolie” (1975) was Salvador Dalí’s final motion picture endeavour. With Dalí as its star, it honours French writer Raymond Roussel. The bizarre fifty-minute journey is around a Mongol princess who gives her followers psychedelic mushrooms so they will paint. To locate these mushrooms, a scientific mission is dispatched to Upper Mongolia. With a blend of electronic and cinematic elements, the movie pays homage to Roussel, a figure Dalí greatly respected. It uses visuals from a 1974 occurrence, Dalí’s Theatre-Museum, and Portlligat’s home. Hallucinogenic images and specially crafted music are used to enhance the story.

10. Babaouo

Manuel Cussó-Ferrer’s “Babaouo” is a film that he directed from Salvador Dalí’s 1932 screenplay. The picture, which was first intended to be a Surrealist piece, takes place in 1934 amid a European civil war. It centres on Babaouo’s journey to Portugal in order to save his lover Matilde. There are several unusual and illogical aspects to the plot, such as melting timepieces and strange meetings. Babaouo becomes blinded and Matilde dies in a vehicle accident after they are reunited. After losing his sight, he pursued a career as an artist in Brittany before being killed. Though the project was abandoned until 1997, Dalí’s unique quirky and artistic vision is captured in the video.

Source:

• Salvadore Dali.org
• Artland Magazine: The Other Salvador Dalí: How the King of Surrealism Made His Mark on Cinema

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