Buzz
As the world of cinema evolved, many filmmakers who rejected the standardized Hollywood approach chose to create their own unique works, often infused with profound meanings rarely found in mainstream movies. Avant-Garde, which translates to 'advance guard,' is a radical and experimental film genre that employs unconventional techniques to communicate ideas. These films typically lack traditional narratives, embracing surrealism, dark humor, and an underground ethos. Their primary aim isn't global popularity but rather the authentic expression of artistic creativity. Listed in no specific order:
10. Jonas Mekas
Often hailed as the 'Godfather' of avant-garde cinema, Mekas's journey began in his youth, spent in hiding after fleeing a German POW camp during World War II. His passion for filmmaking ignited after acquiring a 16mm camera, leading him to explore the medium's potential. He became a pioneer in showcasing his works, frequently screening them at a local theater in Brooklyn, New York, after relocating there.
During the 1960s, he became an integral part of the underground art scene, collaborating with notable figures like Nico and Allen Ginsberg. He admired Jack Smith’s provocative short film 'Flaming Creatures,' but his efforts to distribute it led to his arrest for showing obscene material. Despite this, he became a pioneer in challenging strict censorship laws, predating Jack Valenti’s letter-based rating system by several years.
9. Man Ray
A close associate of Salvador Dalí, Man Ray initially gained recognition as a surrealist painter and photographer before venturing into filmmaking. He was instrumental in showcasing Dalí and Luis Buñuel’s groundbreaking work, 'Un Chien Andalou,' alongside his own film, 'Les mystères du château de Dé.'
Although American by birth, Man Ray spent much of his creative career in Paris, where he exhibited alongside luminaries like Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró. One of his most iconic works is 'Violon d’Ingres,' a photograph of Alice Prin (Kiki de Montparnasse) featuring violin-like f-holes on her back. In the 1920s, he began creating short films, often just a few minutes long. Beyond his own projects, he contributed his expertise to numerous avant-garde films of the time, specializing in photography and editing.
8. Maya Deren
In 1943, Maya Deren and her husband Alexander Hammid created the groundbreaking short film 'Meshes of the Afternoon,' a surrealistic exploration of their personal struggles. The film is renowned for its striking imagery: a flower placed by an unseen hand, a mysterious cloaked figure, and a key transforming into a knife, all contributing to its haunting impact on viewers.
The film was shot using a 16mm camera purchased with funds inherited from Deren’s late father. Despite a modest budget of just $275, financial constraints did not limit her creative expression. Born in Ukraine and raised in New York, Deren was not only a filmmaker but also a vocal critic of Hollywood, condemning its lack of artistic ambition and dominance over cinema. She championed a global perspective for films, though her vision remained unfulfilled when she passed away unexpectedly in 1961 at the age of 44. Throughout her career, she crafted films that engaged audiences on a deeper level, offering fresh perspectives rather than rehashing familiar themes.
7. Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol is a household name, celebrated for his iconic works featuring Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, and Campbell’s soup cans. Beyond his visual art, Warhol produced numerous experimental shorts at his studio, 'The Factory.' Films like 'Taylor Mead’s Ass,' showcasing the actor trouserless, and 'Sleep,' capturing a man asleep, exemplify his ability to transform mundane subjects into memorable, thought-provoking art that resonated deeply with audiences.
Warhol was of Ukrainian descent and relocated to New York from Pittsburgh, where he spent the rest of his life. Initially focusing on art, he introduced a unique twist by creating prints of everyday items like soup cans, coke bottles, dollar bills, and portraits of famous actors. In the early 1960s, he ventured into filmmaking, producing shorts from his studio, 'The Factory,' located on East 47th Street in Midtown. Beyond filmmaking, Warhol was known for hosting extravagant parties. His films featured a recurring group of actors dubbed 'Warhol superstars,' including Nico, Edie Sedgwick, Ultra Violet, Viva, Mary Woronov, Taylor Mead, and Billy Name. His film concepts were often spontaneous and minimalistic. For instance, 'Chelsea Girls' was conceived on a napkin, divided into two sections labeled 'B' and 'W,' resulting in a split-screen film with one side in black and white and the other in color.
6. Alejandro Jodorowsky
Jodorowsky is credited with pioneering the 'midnight movie' phenomenon, with his film 'El Topo' gaining cult status through late-night screenings. At venues like New York’s iconic Elgin Cinema, audiences were treated to an unexpected and surreal experience.
A Chilean native, Jodorowsky moved to Mexico, where he created his most notable works. In 1970, he directed 'El Topo,' a surreal western often referred to as an 'acid western.' The film gained broader recognition thanks to the support of celebrities like John Lennon, Yoko Ono, and George Harrison, who were so captivated by it that they funded his next project, 'The Holy Mountain,' an equally bizarre and surreal film. Jodorowsky also attempted to adapt Frank Herbert’s 'Dune,' with plans to feature Salvador Dalí and Orson Welles, but the project ultimately proved too ambitious to realize.
5. Michael Snow
Snow was not only a celebrated sculptor but also a pioneer in avant-garde filmmaking, creating several groundbreaking short films. In 1967, he released his most iconic work, 'Wavelength,' which became a landmark in experimental cinema.
While his sculptures are prominently displayed across his native Canada, 'Wavelength' epitomizes the essence of avant-garde. The film consists of a single, uninterrupted zoom that glides past various events, including a death, ultimately focusing on a wall adorned with a photograph of the ocean—the true focal point of the zoom. Snow continued to innovate with films like '<—>' (also known as 'Back and Forth'), featuring a camera moving at varying speeds, and 'WVLNT' ('Wavelength for Those Who Don’t Have the Time'). The clip provided is from his film 'La Région Centrale.'
4. Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Fassbinder, alongside directors like Wim Wenders and Werner Herzog, was a key figure in the New German Cinema movement. Early in his career, he focused on avant-garde feature films before transitioning to critically acclaimed theatrical works such as 'Ali: Fear Eats the Soul.'
Fassbinder began his career with avant-garde short films like 'Love is Colder than Death' and 'Beware of the Holy Whore,' which earned him early critical recognition. The success of these projects encouraged him to create films for broader audiences. Despite being produced rapidly on 16mm film with minimal budgets, these works maintained his international popularity. Tragically, Fassbinder did not live to see the premiere of his final film, 'Querelle,' as he passed away at 37 due to a drug overdose after a tumultuous life.
3. Luis Buñuel
Luis Buñuel is widely recognized, particularly for his collaboration with Salvador Dalí on one of the most iconic avant-garde films, 'Un Chien Andalou.' This short film remains a timeless masterpiece, with its unsettling imagery leaving a lasting impression on viewers.
Buñuel and Dalí created 'Un Chien Andalou' in 1929, featuring surreal and seemingly nonsensical scenes, such as a woman’s eye being slit like a cloud cutting across the moon, ants emerging from a hand, and a priest dragging a piano. These bizarre yet powerful visuals conveyed profound meanings. While Buñuel later directed narrative films like 'Belle de Jour' starring Catherine Deneuve, he eventually returned to his roots, creating plotless films reminiscent of his early work. The clip above is from his absurdly brilliant film 'The Phantom of Liberty.'
2. Kenneth Anger
Kenneth Anger dedicated his life to translating his inner emotions into film, often channeling his repressed homoerotic desires. Works like 'Fireworks' and 'Scorpio Rising' were not just avant-garde pieces but also profound expressions of Anger’s personal struggles and identity.
Anger created 'Fireworks' during his youth, filming it over a weekend while his parents were away. The film remains a seminal work in underground queer cinema. Years later, he continued exploring similar themes, with 'Scorpio Rising' focusing on a group of gay, Nazi, sadomasochistic bikers. Despite its critical acclaim, the film led to a police raid during a screening, resulting in Anger and the theater manager’s arrest. The ensuing legal battle over art versus obscenity reached the Supreme Court, which ultimately ruled in Anger’s favor.
1. David Lynch
While David Lynch is primarily known as a Hollywood director, his early works, particularly the 1968 short 'The Alphabet,' exhibit strong avant-garde influences. Throughout his career, Lynch maintained these experimental elements, never straying far from his roots.
In the 1960s, during his 20s, Lynch explored short filmmaking, creating works like 'Six Figures Getting Sick,' 'The Grandmother,' and 'The Amputee.' His debut feature, 'Eraserhead,' retained many techniques from his shorts while introducing a semi-coherent plot. Later films such as 'Dune,' 'Blue Velvet,' 'Lost Highway,' and 'Mulholland Drive' continued to incorporate the eerie, enigmatic qualities that defined his early experimental projects.
