Contemporary French cinema: An introduction (revised edition)

by Guy Austin

Overview

Contemporary French cinema is an essential introduction to popular French film of the last 35 years. It charts recent developments in all genres of French cinema with analyses of over 120 movies, from Les Valseuses to Caché. Reflecting the diversity of French film production since the New Wave, this clear and perceptive study includes chapters on the heritage film, the thriller and the war movie, alongside the 'cinéma du look', representations of sexuality, comedies, the work of women film makers and le jeune cinéma. Each chapter introduces the public reception and critical debates surrounding a given genre, interwoven with detailed accounts of relevant films. Confirmed as a major contribution to both Film Studies and French Studies, this book is a fascinating volume for students and fans of French film alike.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781526162915
Publisher:	Manchester University Press
Publication date:	06/15/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

Guy Austin is Reader in French at the University of Sheffield

Table of Contents

List of illustrations Preface Acknowledgements 1 French cinema from 1895 to 1968, a brief survey 2 Holocaust documentary, the war film and national identity 3 Representations of sexuality 4 Women film-makers in France 5 The 'polar' 6 The 'cinéma du look' and fantasy film 7 The heritage film 8 Comedy 9 'Le jeune cinema' and the new realism Filmography Index

Editorial Reviews

“Crisp, up-to-date and well-informed, Guy Austin's book traces cinematic attitudes to national identity, sexuality, the changing 'polar' (thriller) and heritage ... A novelty is his treatment of the 'cinéma du look', comprised by the films of Jean-Jacques Beineix, Luc Besson and Léos Carax, contextualised here by writings from French critics." --Sight and Sound (on the first edition)

From the Publisher