Lecture 9 - What Does it all Mean Part 1: My Little Underground

This week we walked off the beaten path and discussed art films and art house theaters. In that regard we watched Jean Vigo's L'Atalante (1934).

 

If you missed the screening you can watch the film here on Hulu Plus. 

To continue on this discussion I would like to include this video of French New Wave filmmaker Francois Truffaut talking about the first time he saw L'Atalante and it's influence on him.

 

I don't want to understate the importance of the art house scene and how it changed cinema. Below are several links to points of interest. Please review all of them.

• We venture into the sinister underbelly of cinema with a look at Arthouse Directors Who Aren't Afraid of the Dark.
• The late Roger Ebert reviews Bunuel/Dali's Un Chien Andalou.
• In a follow up, witness the film that highlighted the Dadaist movement by watching Un Chien Andalou in full on Vimeo. WARNING: ONLY FOR THE BRAVEST CINEPHILE.
• The Guardian makes a list of what they consider the 25 Best Arthouse Films of All Time . 
• The concept of Trash Cinema was discussed and many were interested in this classification. Here's an article by The Guardian about art house director Quentin Tarantino: Champion of Trash Cinema (although I disagree with the article's writer stating Tarantino failing as a "serious film-maker") and a Now article about the Myth of the So-Bad-It's-Good Movie.
• Listverse creates a list of the Top 10 Avant-Garde Filmmakers and examples of their work.
• And for those of you interested in seeking out many of these art house films look to The Criterion Collection on Hulu Plus.

Finally, one of my personal favorite Avant-Garde films, Sincerely, Joe P Bear (1999), and my own film made in tribute to it, Frozen in Wonderland (2009). 

If this discussion resonates with you and you want to lend your voice to stream please comment below with your personal favorite "art film" and what makes you consider it such. Be kind and play nice.