Focusing on cinematic realism and its 19th-century roots, this book explores the theories of influential figures like Lukács, Grierson, Bazin, and Kracauer. It delves into the connections between realist film theory and broader film theory and philosophy. Notably, it is the first work to rigorously apply realist film theory to specific film analyses, providing a systematic approach to understanding how realism shapes cinematic narratives.
Set in World War II, the narrative follows a newly formed SOE circuit near Lyon, where young recruits, often lacking experience, band together to resist the German occupation. Their journey highlights themes of bravery and friendship as they engage in dangerous missions, facing significant risks and sacrifices in their fight against tyranny.
The book serves as a comprehensive guide for students and lecturers in film studies, offering insights into key concepts, theories, and methodologies within the discipline. It emphasizes the importance of critical analysis and interpretation of films, exploring various genres, historical contexts, and cultural impacts. The text encourages a deeper understanding of cinema as an art form and a medium of communication, making it an essential resource for both academic and practical applications in film education.
Focusing on the evolution of British official film in Malaya/Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong from 1945 to the 1970s, the book examines how these films adapted to the Cold War and the decline of the British Empire. It discusses the influence of the British documentary film movement and its competition with the 'Colonial Office' filmmaking tradition. The narrative culminates in the analysis of television's emergence in the region amid the rise of post-colonial authoritarian regimes in Singapore and Malaysia, alongside ongoing colonial practices in Hong Kong.
The book, first published in 1990, offers a comprehensive exploration of its subject matter, reflecting the academic rigor and insights typical of Routledge, a respected imprint of Taylor & Francis. It aims to provide readers with a deep understanding of key concepts and themes, making it a valuable resource for students and scholars alike. The publication is part of an ongoing commitment to disseminate knowledge and foster intellectual discourse in its field.
Ian Aitken links the issue of cinematic realism to important questions
concerning human experience, analysing the close similarity between the film
image and visual perception, and how different theories of realism have sought
to uncover the way film's relation to reality can be understood.
Best known for his documentaries such as "Drifters", "North Sea", and "Housing Problems", John Grierson was regarded as one of the most important figures in the British documentary film movement and one of the most influential of British film theorists. Grierson's conception of film as an instrument of social persuasion was derived from an aesthetic tradition based on philosophical idealism, and his theory of documentary film indicates that aesthetics and social purpose should have equal status.Ian Aitken explains the synthesis of naturalism and modernism which characterizes the idealistic strain of Grierson's social commentary and compares it to such contemporary social reformists as the Next Five Years Group and the Mass Observation researchers. He also draws out aesthetic and intellectual similarities between Grierson, Orwell and Priestley. By underlining the link between film and reform, he clarifies the meaning and significance of Grierson's ideas and the historical role of the documentary film movement. This book should be of interest to students and teachers of film studies and media studies.
