Guy Bourdin's experimental films

Guy Bourdin (1928-1991) was a French avant-garde fashion photographer. Mentored by surrealist Man Ray and inspired by filmmaker Luis Buñuel, Bourdin's fashion shoots were often very strange, sexual, phantasmagoric and occasionally quite creepy. His photography frequently appeared in Vogue and Harper's Bazaar and he shot ad campaigns for Charles Jourdan, Issey Miyake, Chanel, and others. Bourdin was also quietly a filmmaker, working with 8mm, super 8, and 16mm. Above is footage of Dayle Haydon and Sayuko during a 1974 Vogue shoot in Normandy, France. More footage (perhaps NSFW) here on YouTube and here on UBUWEB Film. There's also a recent documentary, titled When the Sky Fell Down: The Myth of Guy Bourdin. And in July, Phaidon will publish a small inexpensive hardcover book of his work. (via @chris_carter_)

• [inkfumes]

  Thanks for showing this, i’m totally using it in my Video Production Class segment on experimental film.

  • [David Pescovitz]

    Great! I knew Bourdin’s photography but hadn’t seen any of the film work!

• [DEStrath]

  My name is also Dayle and since it such a rare name I take note when I see it. The Dayle Haydon referred to in this clip is almost surely Dayle Haddon, 1973 Playboy Playmate and formerly from the west island of Montreal. Pictures of her from that era are remarkably similar to the Caucasian woman in the clip. From Wikipedia: “She worked as an actress, appearing in the Disney movie The World’s Greatest Athlete (1973). She moved to Europe, continued modeling and acting, and appeared in a number of film roles in French and English,[4] as well as occasional small parts in American movies.”

• [knoxblox]

  Such an interesting sensual feel to his work, bringing up visual reminders of Kenneth Anger’s films. I wonder if they associated with each other at all?

• [mrclamo]

  I dunnno. At the risk of sounding like a bumpkin whose only exposure to culture is eating yogurt: I couldn’t make it all the way through the video of the girl sitting on a chair. Did I miss an exciting ending?

• [InsertFingerHere]

  I must be a bumpkin too, very unimpressed.

  Obviously this canvas with shit smeared on it is a biting commentary on the modern expression of the struggle of man’s self against the oppressive powers of … achh, look.. you wanna come to my place and fuck or what, cuz if not, the catering here blows and there’s a peace protest down the block and I can usually score with those chicks if I nod a lot as they go on and on about the African babies.

• [anansi133]

  I would be fascinated to click this link, except I really don’t ever want to see the slashing eyeball clip ever again.

  Where are peril sensitive sunglasses when you need them?

• [John]

  Europe in the late 60s and 70s was extraordinary. Particularly when approaching neo-marxism and social critique. Its completely different than feminist approaches more prevalent in the US but never that distant.

  The Gaga story today with this is interesting as a popular culture reference, people compare her with Madonna, rightfully so, but there is a different pedigree. Especially with Gaga’s use of fashion. Probably until now more occurring on the fringe ( Paris is Burning (1990) Part 1 – http://youtu.be/5_S4fibeoMU )Gaga brought European Marxist theory performance style more into the US popular culture limelight.

• [phaedral]

  Access blocked from w/in the L.A. Superior Court. :(