1001 Movies #1: A Trip to the Moon (1902)

I'm watching the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die in chronological order:

https://www.listchallenges.com/1001-movies-you-must-see-before-you-die-all

What a great first movie to begin this journey! I have a theory that all movies are dreams. It's just an approach to film that unlocks the possibilities and allows one to suspend disbelief. There is certainly a realist approach with some films, but I love to just let the film take me on an adventure, letting me create connections in a surreal two dimensional world on a screen.

A Trip to the Moon is a French film whose proper title is Le Voyage dans la Lune. It is 15 minutes long and directed by Georges Méliès. I watched the color version with a musical score by the French band, Air. The film was initially released in black and white and color versions. Color was achieved by individually coloring each frame of each print by hand. The color version was thought to be long lost until a couple decades ago.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Trip_to_the_Moon

Spoilers are ahead so watch now if you want to see for yourself first. This version is slightly shorter, in black and white, but with the soundtrack by Air:

This film is surreal. It's as "trippy" as any cartoon film from the 60s or 70s, only it's with real actors of course. The astronauts are all old men with long beards. They are apparently scientists who launch a rocket to the moon from above the rooftops. They all carry telescopes which magically transform into chairs, then umbrellas, then at one point a mushroom. Why do they journey to the moon carrying only umbrellas and blankets?

If it's a dream, it's the dream of imperialism, in a satirical mode. The astronaut scientists encounter moon natives, who hop towards them, but are easily defeated by the superior technological strength of Earth scientists, exploding upon impact. So basically, Earthlings invade this place and destroy anyone who defends themselves. The Earthlings escape quickly, toppling their ship back down to Earth with an alien in tow, which they enslave.

Alright, I didn't even expect to write this much. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this, twice. Not all the films will be this short.