French Cinema

Catalog description

How does one critically watch a movie? How does cinematic technique affect our reading of a film? To understand cinema is to elevate one’s first impression of a movie through a deeper understanding of the connections that exist between the film story and its cinematic “language" – the way the story is told. Going beyond what you can see and hear also entails being able to situate a film within its time, context and culture. In this class, you will learn about French cinema’s place in global movie history by discussing films representing the evolution of French cinema from the silent era to the present, and from major movements, such as Poetic Realism, the New Wave, and the Cinéma du Look. You will also learn about cinema concepts, vocabulary, and theory in order to articulate meaningful film analyses. Class discussions will point out how the films studied reflect and incorporate important issues in the French cultural context of the 20th and 21st centuries. Taught in English. Section information text: Pre-req: FREN 225 or higher or a score of 5 or higher on the French Placement exam Cross-listed with FREN 173, FRCS 173, & FILM 173