This January, we will be covering French Film from its origins until the end of the second Great War in 1945. This class is not for college credit and there are no papers, tests, or other measurements of your participation. This is for your education and information, to help you grow as a film scholar. We will issue a certificate and we encourage that you share it with others.
This class is permanently hosted on the CineJourneys website. Once you have subscribed, you will have access to the materials indefinitely. Periodically after the class is over, I will post articles or media on the subject in order to continue the conversation. Additionally, you will continue to have access to the class via social media long after the last chapter.
Since the beginning of cinema, France has always been at or close to the global center. The origins of film begin in France, and many of the innovations through silent and sound cinema were advanced ever. Meanwhile, the French have a voracious appetite for world cinema, especially American films (notably during the French New Wave which will be a later course), and many filmmakers utilizes those influences while creating their own masterworks.
During this course, we will explore the origins of French cinema, which means we’ll be talking about the beginning of all cinema. We’ll delve into some of the silent masterworks before and after the First Great War, and spend the majority of our time focused on the time between the wars. After being influenced by German Impressionism and Soviet Montage, the French had their own film movement with Poetic Realism in the 1930s, which is when some of the most celebrated films were made.
Once you have subscribed, you will have access to our learning hub. There will not be a specific textbook for this class, but there will be readings, articles, and media for people to access, along with discussion groups to interact with other classmates. There will be a call for each chapter of study, which will be recorded and stored on the website. Participation on the call is encouraged and we think it will be enjoyable to discuss the films, but it is completely optional.
Please complete the below form to subscribe.