Destino

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.