Meshes of the Afternoon (1943)

It was intriguing to see a surrealist film that was more modern in comparison to . I found the use of sound in this film particularly intriguing as the non-diegetic and diegetic were exaggerated to produce a surreal effect. All naturally produced sounds seemed to be artificially reproduced adding to the dream like atmosphere. They also added very inorganic sounds such as a laser beam which in contrast added to the more organic sounds created a contradiction only justifiable in a dreamlike sense.

The use of looping and well as the mirrored figure made me as an audience member feel lost and confused which I think was intentional. I think the filmmaker wanted us to feel lost in order to access the subconscious. Another recurring motif included a falling key and knife which created a tripping effect,

It was directed by Maya Deren who also starred in the short film. She considered herself among the Avant-garde movement which was a collective of people that considered themselves to be "experimental, radical, or unorthodox with respect to art, culture, or society".

In conclusion, I found this fil confusing. It had a stronger narrate than other surrealist films I have encountered but still managed to make me feel alienated, just in a different way.

Image Reference: https://www2.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/news-bfi/features/maya-deren-meshes-of-the-afternoon

Information Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_Deren