On the History of Film Style

If you're a student of cinema, you will have great use of this book, written by probably most influential film scholar around; his analysis of the film style are equally rewarding as are his comments on the history of cinema studies. Is Bordwell always right, are his claims without doubt? Hardly. But as students of cinema in many countries know (the book was recently translated into Croatian as well), informed insight is but a beginning of the serious discussion and inspiring analysis...

Have you ever actually looked at a film? David Bordwell answers the tendency of recent film criticism and analysis to concentrate on the ideological and cultural motivations and manifestations of cinema. His interest is in really looking at the films themselves. Such a 'novel' standpoint has of course a very long tradition, but Bordwell uses the examination of mise-en-scene, framing, focus, control of colour and contrast values to uncover a great deal that is missed in other readings of cinema. Here is a history of film that a practitioner of cinematography (or plain old photography) will appreciate. He does not underestimate or oversimplify the sublety of a filmaker's intentions and gives credit to the ability of the director/cinematographer team to invent and develop a sophisticated visual language. Brodwells commentary is reinforced by 'photograms' (actual frames) selected from a authoratative familiarity with film that is not restricted to American cinema but includes Soviet, Japanese, Indian and European film. It is only the eyestraining size of their (monochrome) reproduction that is disappointing - but then, we can always go and see the films for ourselves!