A Visual Retrospective Of Luis Buuel's Filmography

Through his long and prolific filmography, Luis Buñuel has proved that an image is, indeed, worth a thousand words. Much like his fellow Surrealists, Buñuel evokes the themes of class struggle and the subconscious mind through his visual metaphors, causing his movies to be essentially visual rather than narrative. We revisit some of his best movies by paying tribute to his evocative — and sometimes unsettling — aesthetic vision.

An Andalusian Dog (1929)

Buñuel and Dalí conceived this short together, as it was inspired by their dreams. In a very Surrealist manner, both artists blur the barrier between dreams and reality in order to abolish our pre-established notions of reality, which are mainly determined by logic and reason.

The short features a wide array of enigmatic imagery that is still analyzed and discussed today. Still, while most symbols remain open to discussion, some clearly echo Dalí’s works. Ants, for instance, are a recurrent element in Dalí’s body of work that signify death and decay.

Many believe that the scene in which a man is seen dragging pianos across the room actually refers to the heavy weight of Western culture that men carry upon their shoulders.

The Exterminating Angel (1961)

What was supposed to be an ordinary supper amongst some privileged friends turns awry once they find themselves trapped inside a room of their host’s house.

This unexplainable situation causes panic amongst the guests. It seems as if an ‘exterminating angel’ has trapped them between these walls in order to challenge their proper and bourgeois behavior.

As usual, Buñuel’s poetic shots are full of meaning. Sheep appear twice during the movie in a very allusive manner, often as a criticism of the bourgeoisie and its conventions.

Belle de Jour (1967)

Séverine Serizy, played by the timelessly elegant Catherine Deneuve, seems like a picture-perfect wife who leads an orderly life — but as usual, Buñuel exposes the unexpected truth that lurks beneath the surface.

Although she is married to a wealthy and kind man, Séverine decides to undertake an unexpected profession while her husband is at work.

A prostitute by day and a housewife at night, Séverine goes on to lead a double life, leaving the viewer surprised as to why such a privileged woman would expose herself to such a trade. Buñuel hints at the cause of her strange behavior by giving us a peek into some of Séverine’s unsettling sexual fantasies.

True to his fashion, Buñuel challenges the harmful consequences that public decorum and seemliness can have on a person’s psychological well-being.

The Discreet Charm of The Bourgeoisie (1972)

Once again, Buñuel’s film focuses on the bourgeoisie, likely because they embody one of Buñuel’s biggest obsessions: the gap between appearances and reality. Much like The Exterminating Angel, a series of uncanny events occurs during a seemingly mundane dinner amongst friends. The most impressive one of these dreamlike events is probably the one in which the guests come to realize that they’re being watched by an audience.

Buñuel’s shots are as humorous as they are creative. Before hiding under the table in order to avoid a barrage of bullets, one of the guest’s hands reaches up to the table for some extra food!

Only after their meal has been disrupted a number of times does this group of bourgeois friends decide to exit their comfortable cocoon of luxury and escape into the wilderness.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

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