ARTOPIACINEMA: "Venom and Eternity" (1951) by Isadore Isou (1925-2007) is quite simply the best post-war avant-garde film. It is astounding. Without Isou, Godard could not exist. Isou founded Letterism (Lettrism/Lettrisme) when he was 16. 

V and E was introduced at Cannes in 1952 by Jean Cocteau. The reaction was so violent fire hoses were required. It begins with a blank screen and a Letterist chant and then...discrepency, chiseling, scratchings, bleach. Stars handsome Isou himself.

Entire film: http://archive.org/details/venom_and_eternity