The surrealists saw film as the ideal medium for transcending bourgeois conventions such as story, plot, character and setting, and for overturning the Aristotelian categories of time and space. In their eyes, pure film is an autonomous and independent art form that is not oriented towards literature or theatre, but should solely develop the stylistic devices unique to the medium. Unique cinematographic techniques such as montage, camera movements and angles, cross-fades and other optical effects create visual compositions that convey abstract emotional experiences.

Although not belonging to the inner circle of surrealists, but in lively exchange with its most important exponents, the American painter, photographer and filmmaker Man Ray implemented this idea of pure cinema, cinéma pur, like few others, creating works of art of unparalleled beauty. Man Ray also has the honour of having introduced Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dalí to the circle of surrealists by including ‘Un chien andalou’ in the accompanying programme for the premiere of his own film ‘Les mystères du château de Dé’. The surrealists were thrilled.