The cinema of postwar Europe was a crucible of filmic invention which had a far-reaching influence. In Italy, France, Britain, Germany and Spain, cinematic ‘New Waves’ revolutionised the ways films were made and discussed. This course explores the key films and directors of the New Wave phenomenon, as well as examining the legacy of these historical moments within each national cinema and beyond.
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This film studies course will explore the postwar phenomenon of New Wave cinemas in Italy, France, Britain, Germany and Spain. In each country the moment of national liberation from war and fascism contributed to an intense period of cultural ferment, especially in cinema. Between the late 1940s to the early 1980s, new directors and films emerged at a dizzying rate. Alongside which, new networks of cinemas, publications, and festivals emerged to foster a vibrant postwar cinéphile culture.
This ten-week course will be structured around five two-week sections focusing on each of the national cinemas indicated above, with key films to be viewed in the students’ own time and suggested additional films and reading indicated. We will explore key historical and contemporary critical accounts of each movement, to develop a sense of the posterity of New Wave cinema. We will examine a range of films, including Rome, Open City (1945), Bicycle Thieves (1948), The 400 Blows (1959), Hiroshima, mon amour (1959), Breathless (1960), Room at the Top (1959), A Taste of Honey (1961), Billy Liar (1963), The Conformist (1970), Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (1973), The Spirit of the Beehive (1973), The American Friend (1977) and Germany Pale Mother (1980).
What will we cover?
• Developments in postwar European cinema • Key films, directors and movements • Key themes, such as authorship, realism and self-reflexivity • Institutional developments, e.g.: production practices • Parallel developments in the wider film culture, e.g.: film criticism and festivals
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Describe and assess developments in postwar European cinema • Identify and assess key films, directors and movements • Describe and assess New Wave cinemas historically and in terms of film style • Identify and assess a range of key themes • Assess postwar European cinema within a critical framework
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
The course is suitable for all levels and you do not require any particular skills - just an enthusiasm for film and discussing film. The course will provide an introduction to the subject but will also be useful for those wishing to build on existing knowledge in the subject area.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The tutor will give a presentation around the subject and key film(s) using PowerPoint slides and clips from other films. Group discussion is encouraged. Key films are to be viewed in the students’ own time and with suggested additional films and reading indicated.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You will require a pen and paper (or laptop/device) but the tutor will provide all other materials such as handouts. The tutor will show extracts from films and you do not have to obtain them.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Please look also for other Film Studies courses under History Culture and Writing/Film Studies at www.citylit.ac.uk.
Dr Chris Darke is an author and film critic who has written extensively on film and the moving image for over thirty years for publications including Sight and Sound, Film Comment, Cahiers du cinéma, Frieze, mute and The Independent, among others. He has also published five books on film including Light Readings: Film Criticism and Screen Arts (Wallflower Press, 2000); Alphaville (on Jean-Luc Godard’s 1965 film. IB Tauris, 2005); Cannes: Inside the World’s Premier Film Festival (with Kieron Corless. Faber, 2007); Chris Marker: A Grin without a Cat (Whitechapel Gallery, 2016); La Jetée (on Chris Marker’s 1963 film. BFI Film Classics, 2006 & 2026). He has taught Film Studies at British universities for over thirty years and his particular research interests are in French Cinema, Artists’ Moving Image, the Essay Film, and the work of Chris Marker.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
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https://www.citylit.ac.uk/european-cinema-ww2-to-the-present-day2681298European Cinema: WW2 to the Present Dayhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/third-man-HF186-1024.jpg279279GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Film studies/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Film studies/European film22851177158020881228511771580<p>The cinema of postwar Europe was a crucible of filmic invention which had a far-reaching influence. In Italy, France, Britain, Germany and Spain, cinematic ‘New Waves’ revolutionised the ways films were made and discussed. This course explores the key films and directors of the New Wave phenomenon, as well as examining the legacy of these historical moments within each national cinema and beyond. </p>153071353European Cinema: WW2 to the Present Day279279https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/third-man-HF186-1024.jpgInStockDaytimeWedKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2027-01-20T00:00:00+00:00Jan 2027Culture, history & humanitiesHF410279279European Cinema: WW2 to the Present Day223181279Chris Darkeeuropean-cinema-ww2-to-the-present-day/hf410-2627<p>The cinema of postwar Europe was a crucible of filmic invention which had a far-reaching influence. In Italy, France, Britain, Germany and Spain, cinematic ‘New Waves’ revolutionised the ways films were made and discussed. This course explores the key films and directors of the New Wave phenomenon, as well as examining the legacy of these historical moments within each national cinema and beyond. </p>0000-Available|2027-01-20 00:00:00<p>This film studies course will explore the postwar phenomenon of New Wave cinemas in Italy, France, Britain, Germany and Spain. In each country the moment of national liberation from war and fascism contributed to an intense period of cultural ferment, especially in cinema. Between the late 1940s to the early 1980s, new directors and films emerged at a dizzying rate. Alongside which, new networks of cinemas, publications, and festivals emerged to foster a vibrant postwar cinéphile culture. </p><p>This ten-week course will be structured around five two-week sections focusing on each of the national cinemas indicated above, with key films to be viewed in the students’ own time and suggested additional films and reading indicated. We will explore key historical and contemporary critical accounts of each movement, to develop a sense of the posterity of New Wave cinema. We will examine a range of films, including Rome, Open City (1945), Bicycle Thieves (1948), The 400 Blows (1959), Hiroshima, mon amour (1959), Breathless (1960), Room at the Top (1959), A Taste of Honey (1961), Billy Liar (1963), The Conformist (1970), Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (1973), The Spirit of the Beehive (1973), The American Friend (1977) and Germany Pale Mother (1980).<br> </p><p>The cinema of postwar Europe was a crucible of filmic invention which had a far-reaching influence. In Italy, France, Britain, Germany and Spain, cinematic ‘New Waves’ revolutionised the ways films were made and discussed. This course explores the key films and directors of the New Wave phenomenon, as well as examining the legacy of these historical moments within each national cinema and beyond. </p><p>• Developments in postwar European cinema <br>• Key films, directors and movements<br>• Key themes, such as authorship, realism and self-reflexivity<br>• Institutional developments, e.g.: production practices<br>• Parallel developments in the wider film culture, e.g.: film criticism and festivals</p><p>• Describe and assess developments in postwar European cinema <br>• Identify and assess key films, directors and movements<br>• Describe and assess New Wave cinemas historically and in terms of film style<br>• Identify and assess a range of key themes<br>• Assess postwar European cinema within a critical framework</p><p>The course is suitable for all levels and you do not require any particular skills - just an enthusiasm for film and discussing film. The course will provide an introduction to the subject but will also be useful for those wishing to build on existing knowledge in the subject area.</p><p>The tutor will give a presentation around the subject and key film(s) using PowerPoint slides and clips from other films. Group discussion is encouraged. Key films are to be viewed in the students’ own time and with suggested additional films and reading indicated.</p><p>You will require a pen and paper (or laptop/device) but the tutor will provide all other materials such as handouts. The tutor will show extracts from films and you do not have to obtain them.</p><p>Please look also for other Film Studies courses under History Culture and Writing/Film Studies at www.citylit.ac.uk.</p>Film studiesEuropean filmvirtual223279181HF410NONEWed20/01/27 - 24/03/2711:00 - 13:0011:0013:0010 sessions (over 10 weeks)105-10 weeksDaytimeWeekdayKSKeeley StreetChris DarkeAvailable courses2027-01-20T00:00:00+00:00Jan 2027Culture, history & humanities279279European Cinema: WW2 to the Present Dayeuropean-cinema-ww2-to-the-present-day/hf410-2627<p>The cinema of postwar Europe was a crucible of filmic invention which had a far-reaching influence. In Italy, France, Britain, Germany and Spain, cinematic ‘New Waves’ revolutionised the ways films were made and discussed. This course explores the key films and directors of the New Wave phenomenon, as well as examining the legacy of these historical moments within each national cinema and beyond. </p>0000-Available|2027-01-20 00:00:00<p>This film studies course will explore the postwar phenomenon of New Wave cinemas in Italy, France, Britain, Germany and Spain. In each country the moment of national liberation from war and fascism contributed to an intense period of cultural ferment, especially in cinema. Between the late 1940s to the early 1980s, new directors and films emerged at a dizzying rate. Alongside which, new networks of cinemas, publications, and festivals emerged to foster a vibrant postwar cinéphile culture. </p><p>This ten-week course will be structured around five two-week sections focusing on each of the national cinemas indicated above, with key films to be viewed in the students’ own time and suggested additional films and reading indicated. We will explore key historical and contemporary critical accounts of each movement, to develop a sense of the posterity of New Wave cinema. We will examine a range of films, including Rome, Open City (1945), Bicycle Thieves (1948), The 400 Blows (1959), Hiroshima, mon amour (1959), Breathless (1960), Room at the Top (1959), A Taste of Honey (1961), Billy Liar (1963), The Conformist (1970), Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (1973), The Spirit of the Beehive (1973), The American Friend (1977) and Germany Pale Mother (1980).<br> </p><p>The cinema of postwar Europe was a crucible of filmic invention which had a far-reaching influence. In Italy, France, Britain, Germany and Spain, cinematic ‘New Waves’ revolutionised the ways films were made and discussed. This course explores the key films and directors of the New Wave phenomenon, as well as examining the legacy of these historical moments within each national cinema and beyond. </p><p>• Developments in postwar European cinema <br>• Key films, directors and movements<br>• Key themes, such as authorship, realism and self-reflexivity<br>• Institutional developments, e.g.: production practices<br>• Parallel developments in the wider film culture, e.g.: film criticism and festivals</p><p>• Describe and assess developments in postwar European cinema <br>• Identify and assess key films, directors and movements<br>• Describe and assess New Wave cinemas historically and in terms of film style<br>• Identify and assess a range of key themes<br>• Assess postwar European cinema within a critical framework</p><p>The course is suitable for all levels and you do not require any particular skills - just an enthusiasm for film and discussing film. The course will provide an introduction to the subject but will also be useful for those wishing to build on existing knowledge in the subject area.</p><p>The tutor will give a presentation around the subject and key film(s) using PowerPoint slides and clips from other films. Group discussion is encouraged. Key films are to be viewed in the students’ own time and with suggested additional films and reading indicated.</p><p>You will require a pen and paper (or laptop/device) but the tutor will provide all other materials such as handouts. The tutor will show extracts from films and you do not have to obtain them.</p><p>Please look also for other Film Studies courses under History Culture and Writing/Film Studies at www.citylit.ac.uk.</p>Film studiesEuropean filmconfigurable
20881580European filmhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/film-studies/european-film1/2/285/1177/1580/20881/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Film studies/European film
