History of French Cinema.
This course is designed as an introduction to the history and aesthetics of French cinema from its origin to the contemporary state, with an emphasis on major works and directors. We will watch, discuss and analyze several landmark French films through the lens of style, culture and civilization (history, literature, class, gender etc.). The methodology of formal film analysis will be a key aspect of the course: what is editing? A deep focused shot? A tracking shot? A low angle etc. What does film form tell us about the meaning of the film and the director’s style? We will also explore the many cross-cultural interactions between French cinema and foreign films (USA, Russia, Italy, Sweden, etc.), and explore the current, transnational state of French cinema. Course taught in French.