Not every movie has to have a coherent, cohesive plot — or even a story, really. It doesn't have to have characters, or people or actors. Stripping away the basic elements of movies can be a great way to better understand what a filmmaker is doing with camera movements, framing, composition, color, sound, lighting or editing.

If you want a real challenge for this weekend, treat yourself to our picks of intriguing experimental and avant-garde movies from some pretty famous directors (and one particular classic rock band).

'Head' (1968)

Stop us if you've heard of this pitch for a movie before: a boy band created to compete with The Beatles got a satirical musical adventure written by Jack Nicholson, it's totally avant-garde and not all that appropriate for its intended audience, children.

"Head" sports incredible songs and celeb cameos from Frank Zappa, Dennis Hopper and Victor Mature, and very few people know that this oddity exists side-by-side with "A Hard Day's Night" and "Help!". It's a ton of fun, incredibly well shot and very trippy.

'Holy Motors' (2012)

This is listed as a "surrealistic fantasy drama," but really, it's a totally bananas excursion through different genres using the same actor to play, like, a dozen different roles. There isn't a real plot — none of it connects or makes any sense — but this is purely about an actor acting, and you're either in for the ride or you're all the way out. Eva Mendes and Kylie Minogue randomly show up, as a fun bonus.

'Certified Copy' (2010)

What is art? What is truth? Are films just 24 lies per second projected onto a screen? Do Juliette Binoche and this guy actually know each other, or are they total strangers? These are the questions you are likely to ask while watching "Certified Copy," a movie about a couple whose relationship you'll never understand, because it constantly changes throughout the movie.

And if that wasn't confusing enough, the film is in English, French and Italian. (Don't be afraid, though, this is a staggeringly beautiful and contemplative film that more people should see.)

'The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie' (1972)

This would be a totally normal movie about a bunch of rich French people sitting down to eat a meal together, if only things didn't keep happening to interrupt them, over and over, in more outlandish ways each time! This comedic masterpiece eventually delves into dream logic and bizarre events, and director Luis Buñuel is basically trolling the audience for daring to watch his movie. If you're game enough to handle all of that, this is one of the best foreign films you'll ever see.

'Dogville' (2003)

Few props, no visual effects, no locations; that's pretty much the most you can extract from a movie while still being able to call it a movie. This is the avant-garde exercise Lars von Trier decided to do with a stacked cast (Nicole Kidman, Lauren Bacall, Paul Bettany, James Caan, John Hurt, etc.) for 2003's "Dogville."

This movie feels like you're watching rehearsals for a stage play; there are chalk outlines of rooms on the floor and it's all on a big fake set. This is not like anything you've seen before, and is an absolute test of acting and filmmaking. Plus, at one point in the story, Nicole Kidman gets chained around the neck with a big wheel, and she has to drag it around. This is a really weird movie.

[Image: YouTube]