Film glossary

Absurdism

A cultural and philosophical movement characterized by a focus on the experiences of the individual and a rejection of traditional societal norms and values.

Adaptation

the process of adapting a story or work from one medium to another, such as from a novel to a film

Anime

a style of Japanese animated film or television that is known for its distinctive artistic style and storytelling methods

Avant-Garde film

a type of experimental film that seeks to challenge conventional film-making styles and techniques

Aspect Ratio

the proportional relationship between the width and height of a movie image

Auteur Theor

a critical approach that evaluates a film based on the creative vision of its director, viewing the director as the "author" of the film

Blaxploitation

A genre of film that emerged in the 1970s aimed at African American audiences, often depicting black characters in stereotypical and exaggerated roles.

Film Noir

A genre of film that emerged in the 1940s, characterized by dark and brooding atmosphere, use of shadows, low-key lighting, and themes of crime and moral ambiguity.

New German Cinema

A movement from the 1960s-70s, characterized by experimental forms and exploration of political and social themes.

Spaghetti Western

Western films made in Italy and Spain in the 1960s-70s, known for distinctive style and low budgets.

Surrealist Film

A type of experimental film starting in the 1920s that explores the subconscious and irrational aspects of the human mind, often using dream-like imagery and symbolism.

Aspect Ratio

The proportional relationship between the width and height of a movie image.

Closeup

A film shot featuring a close-up view of a person or object, often used to emphasize emotion or details.

Continuity Editing

A filmmaking technique that creates a seamless and coherent visual experience by matching shots.

Dolly Shot

A shot involving camera movement toward or away from a subject on a dolly, creating a smooth tracking effect.

Low Key Lighting

A technique using mostly shadows and minimal lighting to create a dark, moody atmosphere.

Montage

A technique involving cutting between shots to create meaning or convey a passage of time.

Mise-en-Scène

All visual and spatial elements of a scene, including setting, costumes, props, and actors' movements.

Steadicam

A camera stabilization system that allows for smooth and stable shots while moving

Superimposition

A technique where two or more images are layered to create a composite image.

Benshi

A narrator in traditional Japanese silent cinema who provided live commentary and sound effects.

Block Booking

An early film industry practice where theatre owners had to book large blocks of films, often including low-quality films.

Doctrine of Socialist Realism

A Soviet Union cultural policy enforcing the creation of works promoting socialism.

Kuleshov Effect

A technique where audience interpretation of a shot is influenced by the preceding and following shots.

Oberhausen Manifesto

A 1962 declaration by young German filmmakers calling for a reinvention of German cinema.

Vertical Control

A practice where studios controlled all aspects of the industry, including production, distribution, and exhibition, ending in 1948 due to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

Vitaphone

A sound-on-disc technology used to synchronize sound with motion pictures in the late 1920s and early 1930s.

Calabash films

a type of West African film characterized by their use of indigenous storytelling techniques and their focus on local culture and traditions

Churros

a Spanish word for a type of pastry that was often sold in theatres and became associated with cinema culture. In Mexico the word is pejorative and is used to describe a bad commercial film

Cinematographie

a French term used to describe the quality prized by the French Impressionist avant-garde of the 1920s, characterized by a focus on light, movement, and the interaction between the camera and its subject

Colorization

the process of adding color to black and white films, either through hand-painting or digital methods

Commedia dell'árte

a form of improvisational theatre that originated in Italy in the 16th century and is characterized by its use of stock characters and scenarios

Europudding

a term used to describe a film that combines elements from multiple European cultures or film styles, often in an effort to appeal to a wider international audience. The result is often bland and generic

Existentialism

a philosophical movement that emphasizes individual freedom and choice and the search for meaning in a seemingly meaningless world. "Life has no meaning so I will create meaning"

Futurism

an artistic and cultural movement that emerged in Italy in the early 20th century and sought to celebrate the power and beauty of modern technology and the future. Also important in early Soviet film

Heritage Film

a European genre of film that focuses on national and cultural traditions, often in an effort to evoke feelings of nostalgia and to promote national pride

Film Impressionism

a style of French avant-garde film from the 1920s that emphasizes the lyrical and rhythmic possibilities of the medium

Italian Neorealism

a cultural and artistic movement that emerged in Italy after World War II and was characterized by its focus on the lives of ordinary people and its use of non-professional actors and location shooting

Kinetoscope

an early motion picture device invented by Thomas Edison in the late 19th century, which used a rotating drum to display short, hand-cranked films

Nihilism

a philosophical movement that denies the existence of objective meaning or morality and sees life as essentially meaningless. Traditions and expectations mean little

Leitmotif

a recurring musical or sound theme that is associated with a specific character, event, or idea in a film

Photogenie

a term used by French film theorists to describe the quality of a shot or sequence that has a magnetic or captivating quality

Poetic Realism

a film style that emerged in France in the 1930s, characterized by its focus on the lives of ordinary people and its use of poetic, lyrical images to evoke emotion

Peep Show

a type of entertainment that allows the viewer to watch a short film or scene by peeking through a small viewing window

Polyvision

a film-making technique that uses multiple projections

Problem Picture

A film genre that deals with social or political issues and aims to raise awareness or spark debate among its audience

Pure Cinema

A term that refers to the idea of cinema as an art form that can convey emotions and ideas solely through visual means, without relying on other art forms such as literature or theatre

Second Avant-Garde

A term used to describe a wave of experimental French filmmaking in the 1920s that is defined by Pure Cinema.

Serial Film

A series of short films that were shown in theatres as separate episodes, usually before the main feature. The episodes were usually part of a larger story and ended with a cliffhanger to keep audiences coming back for the next episode

Series film

A film that is part of a larger franchise or series, often featuring recurring characters and storylines.

Social Realism

A film style that aims to accurately depict the lives of ordinary people, often focusing on issues such as poverty, unemployment, and injustice. Popular in Britain starting in the 1960s

Surrealist Film

A type of experimental film starting in the 1920s that explores the subconscious and irrational aspects of the human mind, often using dream-like imagery and symbolism

Technicolor

A color motion picture process that was widely used from the 1930s to the 1950s, known for its vibrant and rich color palette

Undercranking

a film production technique where the camera records at a slower frame rate than the playback rate, resulting in sped-up footage. This creates fast-motion effects, such as time-lapse or energetic movements. Undercranking makes the subjects' movements in front of the camera more exaggerated. Often used for comedic effect

Typage

A casting technique in early silent films where actors were chosen for their physical appearance, often to represent a particular ethnic or national stereotype

Vertical Control

An attempt to control all aspects of the industry. Studios made, released and marketed their films, even owning the cinemas in which they were shown. This ended in 1948 through a U.S. Supreme Court decision

Westerns

A film genre that typically takes place in the American Old West, often featuring cowboys, gunslingers, and frontier life

Youth Films

Genre popular in the 1960s that focused on the radical lifestyles adopted in the era