Funny part... - L'âge d'or (1979) Discussion

I like: 1) the cow-into-bed gag; 2) the "foundation" of Rome

what's so funny about kicking the blind man?

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[–] oknar1977 9 years ago

the cow-into-bed gag

i didn't find the cow scene funny at all.

i found it something "normal" in western art, a part of Dali - i visited his museum, after the stuff in Figuere's museum, i take this as something normal in relation to him.

in '90ties there was a talk show on Croatian national tv - Željka Ogresta was the host, and for some reason in one episode she brought a cow on the stage along with her guest. that was funny and unexpected, especially when the cow took a toilet number 2 in front of the camera and audience. as the cow lifted the tail, you could see cow's anus becoming wide enough to throw a tone of feces out on the floor.

maybe she was inspired by bunuel?

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[–] Brysonashultz 15 years ago

That was one of the only times I ever busted out laughing during a film. It was just so random and unexpected that you can't help but laugh.

"Laura Harring looks like Samuel L. Jackson." - Franzkabuki

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[–] BarrisDarkly 15 years ago

Kicking the blind man, the cow on the bed, and the guy shooting the kid were what made me actually laugh out loud. I'm certain laughing at the guy shooting the kid make me a horrible person, but all the kid did was swat, what was it, a paper out of the guy's hand? And he shoots him! It' so......so..... surreal!

On the run from Johnny Law...Ain't no trip to Cleveland.

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] SpiraMirabilis 15 years ago

When the old woman throws the glass of water and he gets mad and slaps her.

I've had it with these monkey-fighting snakes on this Monday-to-Friday plane!

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[–] aliza_tvito 15 years ago

And her daugther (the Girl) looks so happy about it!

Thanks God, I'm an Atheist! - Luis Bunuel

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[–] SpiraMirabilis 15 years ago

Haha yes, they're such a bizarre couple!

I've had it with these monkey-fighting snakes on this Monday-to-Friday plane!

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] thePaleface 14 years ago

As the scene was motioning up to the climax of the malignant kick to the blind man, personally I anticipated 'The Man' was going to benevolently help the blind man across the road!!

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[–] musicbymartin 9 years ago

I think the violence is funny in this film, a God is kicked for barking, the blind man for no reason, the society hostess slapped for a slight spill of a drink, a little boy shot for being cheeky.

These are all extreme reactions, and filmed in such a way as to make them appear ridiculous, sudden, but very funny. Military and revolutionary imagery often accompany the film too.

I think the violence is likely a result of the repression which is the theme of the film. When we are repressed, culture, nature, morals, work all go out the window (literally in this movie!) Freud's theories were relatively new and adopted enthusiastically by the surrealists. The most violent scene (off screen) appears at the end when the libertines led by the De Sadean character torture and kill eight innocent young girls. It's no accident that the ringleader of this awful crime looks like Jesus. The church, the most repressive organisation gives rise to the most awful violence and sadism. The coda at the end of the film takes the 'repression-leads-to-violence' theme to its horrible extreme.

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[–] rickypramos 9 years ago

Stomping the bug.

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