Film History Review

Flashcards for review.

Film Noir

A film style known for its dark and moody atmosphere, often focusing on themes like fatalism, moral ambiguity, and existential dread.

Chiaroscuro

High-contrast lighting with heavy shadows used to create a mysterious and uneasy atmosphere in film noir.

UNINCI

A production company founded by Juan Antonio Bardem and Luis García Berlanga that aimed to renew Spanish cinema by focusing on socially relevant themes.

‘Cine con niño’

A genre of Spanish cinema, popularized in the 1950s, that centers on the experiences of children and often contrasts their innocence with societal challenges.

“Viridiana affair”

Refers to the controversy surrounding Luis Buñuel's film Viridiana, which was accused of blasphemy and banned in Spain until 1977.

Internationalization (in 1950s Spanish cinema)

A period when Spanish cinema started to adopt global cinematic practices and engage more with foreign filmmakers.

Cine de Arte y Ensayo

A style of Spanish cinema that emphasizes an artistic or experimental approach, often exploring personal, emotional, and intellectual themes.

Landismo

A filmmaking movement in Spain during the 1970s that reflected the concerns and experiences of Spanish youth amidst societal changes.

Tercera Vía

A theoretical approach in Spanish cinema that aimed to balance commercial cinema with more artistic, experimental filmmaking.

Escuela de Barcelona

A group of filmmakers and artists in Barcelona during the late 20th century known for their innovative narrative techniques and focus on social commentary.

El espíritu de la colmena (1973)

A 1973 film directed by Víctor Erice that delves into themes of childhood innocence, memory, and the lingering effects of the Spanish Civil War.

‘Nuevo Cine Español’

A Spanish film movement characterized by unconventional narratives that broke away from traditional cinematic structures and explored social and political issues.

‘Lucas-Spielberg syndrome’

The ideological crisis of the 1970s, as reflected in films by George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, which use nostalgia and the reaffirmation of patriarchal values.

“Compensatory fantasy”

Cinematic narratives that offer an escape or reassurance to audiences by countering real-world anxieties, fears, and discontent.

“Incoherent text”

Films that lack a clear, cohesive narrative structure, resulting in disjointed storytelling.

Pleasure as ideological construction

The idea that the pleasure derived from films is shaped by underlying ideological frameworks, reinforcing dominant social narratives.

Oppositional Cinema

Films that challenged the ideological constraints of the Francoist regime and sought to re-examine Spanish history.

Carlos Saura

The most internationally successful Spanish director of the late Franco years and the Transition period.

Pilar Miró

Served as the Director General of Cinematography and reformed the Spanish film industry.

‘Quality’ Cinema

Films selected for state funding based on their artistic and cultural value rather than commercial potential.

‘New Social Realism’

A filmmaking style that depicted contemporary social issues in a naturalistic, accessible manner in the late 1990s.

‘Neo-vulgar Spanish Cinema’

A trend in late 1990s Spanish films characterized by crude humor, sexuality, and irreverence.

‘Event movies’

Designed to be major cultural events, often with broad appeal, high production values, and mass marketing.

Cross-promotion

A marketing strategy where multiple products are promoted together to boost visibility and sales.

‘Deterritorialization’ (of the Hollywood film industry)

The process by which the Hollywood film industry has become less tied to specific geographic locations and more globally interconnected.

“Hollywood film is a copyright industry”

A phrase that underscores the centrality of intellectual property in the contemporary film industry.

Gender Bias in Film

Systematic prejudice in film, affecting representation and opportunities for women and other genders both on and off screen.