“I love the spontaneity of this situation. If you'd like to spend the night, we'll make up as many rooms as needed. I'm pleased to see the old spirit of improvisation is alive and well.”El ángel exterminador [The Exterminating Angel] (Luis Buñuel, 1962)
Jun
3
National Black Bear Day
A young brown bear in a luxuriously furnished room. DP: Gabriel Figueroa.
As part of a witty surprise, Lucía Nóbile (Lucy Gallardo) arranged a #bear and three #sheep for the lavish dinner party she's thrown for her fellow #opera-loving guests. However, the joke is not appreciated and in the cause of the evening – and a ruined dinner when the staff decides to go even before serving any of the #food – the company find that they cannot leave the salon.
– Edmundo Nobile
While the beasts roam the house, the elite are faced with hunger, primal urges, and no motivation to leave.
surrealism
“I'm the king of the silent pictures. I'm hiding out till talkies blow over.”Mickey One (Arthur Penn, 1965)
Apr
8
Step Into The Spotlight Day
Mickey (Warren Beatty) bent over, holding a microphone with a bright spotlight aimed at him. DP: Ghislain Cloquet.
Warren Beatty plays Mickey, a #StandUpComedian who has it all, then gambles it all away. Well, that's the first 5 minutes of Arthur Penn's Mickey One. Beatty is out of his element, and the movie's still too indebted to the cheery 60s to carry that New American Cinema grit.
– Mickey One
Having said that, there are several great small surreal moments that are carried by uncredited character actors alone. And then there's a sole spotlight, stealing it all away.
“He puts his cheek to the wall. With a kiss he licks the vertical surface and the greedy plaster sucks in his saliva. Then a shower of kisses.”Un chant d'amour [A Song of Love] (Jean Genet, 1950)
Jan
30
National Escape Day
From one prison window to another, a bunch of flowers swings towards a grasping hand. DP: Jacques Natteau.
An escape of sorts, in love and lust.
– Jean Genet, Notre-Dame des Fleurs (1942/43)
“War is declared! Down with monitors and punishment! Long live rebellion! Liberty or death! Hoist our flag on the school roof! Stand firm with us tomorrow! We'll bombard them with rotten old books, dirty tin cans, smelly boots and all the ammo piled up in the attic! We'll fight those old goats on commemoration day! Onward!”Zéro de conduite: Jeunes diables au collège [Zero for Conduct] (Jean Vigo, 1933)
Jan
24
International Day Of Eduction
The students on a rooftop, saluting as if part of an army. DP: Boris Kaufman.
– Tabard, one of the students