Why is this film called ‘the golden age’ or ‘the age of gold’?
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| L'Age d'Or, even larger cow |
- The title is deliberately vague and deliberately problematic, and forms a binary opposition between the happy themes of the title and the transgressive themes of the film itself.
- A reference to the French Belle Époque or golden age, a term referring to the late 19th century, and the culture and fashion of this time
- Is ‘the golden age’ a reference to the roman empire, which is explicitly featured in this film?
- Is it a reference to the bourgeoisie and an ironic criticism of the ‘modern age’?
- The golden age is a reference to wish fulfilment, and the idea that in our dreams we can fulfil every wish with no repercussions. Examples include kicking the dog, killing a child, smacking someone, and general sexual desire. Clearly the transgressive nature of these manifestations of desire draws attention to the deeply problematic nature of the subconscious and its relation to civilised society!
In what ways does this film both resemble and differ from Un Chien Andalou?
- L’age D’or has a far more conventional narrative, which sees The Man desperately seeking to consummate his love for the woman. However both films feature similar levels of narrative and spatial discontinuity. L’age D’or also has a noticeably higher budget, thanks to the success of the first film
What broad thematic elements does this film touch upon?
- Class, and the exploitation of the proletariat by the bourgeoisie
- Challenging religious rhetoric
- Drawing attention to government corruption
- The hypocrisy of societal sexual repression
- Social norms and hegemonic values
How does the beach scene encode the primary themes of this film?
- The MES of the dog and the beetle, both heightened through the use of ECU demonstrate a passionate response to being sexually repressed. Unable to seek release, the man chooses to victimise those who are physically more vulnerable. This also encodes the ideology of libertinism, through seeking pleasure by torturing others
- The MES of the dead bishops lying on a rock presents a controversial and highly upsetting mode of address for the spectator. In doing so, Bunuel is challenging religious ideologies, in particular the idea of living, healthy people giving up their lives to worship long dead men. However, the congregation pay only the minimum amount of respect, turning instantly and moving along in a big queue
- The MES of the featureless grey box box is clearly a criticism of organised religion, and likens Christianity to worshipping something meaningless and pointless. It could also suggest that Christianity is dead, and the congregation have moved on to another religion