What is Surrealism in film?

Surrealist film uses dreamlike imagery, irrational narratives, and shocking juxtapositions to explore the unconscious mind. Luis Bunuel and Salvador Dali’s ‘Un Chien Andalou’ (1929) established the genre with its famous eye-slicing scene and non-linear narrative that defied logical interpretation. Bunuel continued making surrealist films throughout his career, while Maya Deren brought surrealist techniques to American experimental cinema. Contemporary filmmakers including David Lynch, Alejandro Jodorowsky, and directors of Afro-Surrealist cinema like Jordan Peele continue the tradition. Film’s ability to create impossible images, manipulate time, and immerse viewers makes it an ideal Surrealist medium. Explore video and film on Surrealism Today.