In the film Destino by Salvador Dali and Walt
Disney, there are many factors in what makes it such an amazing short film. One
such factor is this simple question: Will Chronos and woman ever get together
or are they truly destined to remain apart? The reason why this question is
asked is because that something always keeps Chronos and woman apart during the
film. Whether it be time itself or different elements altogether, they cannot
get close enough to embrace. They can only see one another from a distance. Thus,
this film’s conflict rests in the ‘Man vs. Nature’ category. Both Chronos and
the woman are trying to reach each other and be together, but the world seems
to conspire to keep them apart no matter what they do.
The plot itself, while
confusing due to the imagery, can be seen if one were to look real close. The
tension begins to rise after Chronos escapes from the prison that used to be
the statue. Its during this time that we, the viewers, begin to realize the
hopelessness of the situation that the two seem to be in, because this
dream-like world seems to be doing everything in its power to keep them apart.
The closest thing to comic relief this thing has is when the insects crawl out
of the hole in Chronos’ hand and transform to gentlemen bicyclists with bread
on their heads, referencing Dali’s other collaborative work ‘Un Chien Andalou’.
The climax of the film occurs when Chronos hugs the white ‘woman’, only for it
to slowly disappear in his arms. Afterwards, the ‘denouement’ occurs, showing
the statue back in its original form, but also showing a slight hole in its
heart that holds the statue of a dancer. Thus meaning that the woman is still
in Chronos’ heart.
This movie is pure Salvador
Dali at his greatest. The bizarreness of the entire film mirrors his
surrealism, and makes you amazed that he actually partnered with Walt Disney to
do this. I’m a bit sad that Walt did not actually bother to put this into the
first Fantasia, because this would have changed the industry forever. This film
is a masterpiece, and has improved my view of animation even more.
