Watch L'Age d'Or

L'Age d'Or is a film directed by surrealist pioneer Luis Bunuel and co-written with poet and novelist Salvador Dali. The film, which premiered in Paris in 1930, is a recognizable masterpiece of the surrealist movement. The movie starts with a scene of stones falling from the sky, followed by a documentary-style depiction of scorpions and insects crawling around in the sands of a vast desert. The movie then transitions to a story about a young couple, separated by their families, who cannot be together because of their class differences. The woman is seen crying in frustration as she is prevented from being with the man she loves.

The movie showcases numerous surrealistic elements throughout the storyline, from a group of bishops to a female nun who plays a piano with her elbows. The story is about how the young couple struggles to unite while facing opposition from the church and the aristocracy.

The audience is taken through various surreal and symbolic sequences that portray this struggle. One such scene shows a fight between two similarly dressed men who roll around the ground, canes in hand. Various surrealistic elements such as human hands that morph into crawly insects, corpses that suddenly come to life, and even a cow in a bedroom are some of the things that the viewer encounters throughout the film.

The film shows the decadence of the bourgeoisie through several different elements. One key sequence shows a wealthy family engaged in dinner while chaos reigns outside, with coins flying through windows and protesters chanting slogans outside. This particular scene showcases the class struggle that so often occurs throughout the movie.

The bizarre nature of the movie is backed by a surrealistic soundtrack that features everything from music to sound effects mixed together to create an eerie and gloomy atmosphere. The movie uses several sound effects to create a sense of disorientation among the audience.

L'Age d'Or jolts the viewer with a firm grip on the surreal, showcasing various controversial elements such as animal abuse and anti-religious undertones. The movie depicts the bourgeoisie as opulent and self-absorbed, both distant from the poor struggles in society and deeply flawed. The movie provoked controversy primarily due to this depiction.

L'Age d'Or is distinguished by Bunuel's signature style in his filmmaking, as well as his partnership with Dali, bringing forth a magnificent work that defied the boundaries of cinema. The movie is a significant achievement in the surrealist movement, combining art with social commentary. It is a visually stunning masterpiece that continues to influence modern cinema to this day.

Overall, L'Age d'Or is a mesmerizing film with a surrealist approach that will profoundly impact and influence viewers long after the credits roll. It combines symbolism, themes of love, class struggle, and a critique of decadent society that is presented in a truly stunning work of film.

L'Age d'Or is a 1930 romance movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 3 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2.