This history covers the filmmaking tradition often referred to as cinéma militant, which emerged in France during the events of May 1968 and flourished for a decade. While some films produced were created by established filmmakers, including Chris Marker, Jean-Luc Godard, and William Klein, others were helmed by left-wing filmmakers working in the extreme margins of French cinema. This latter group gave voice to underrepresented populations, such as undocumented immigrants (sans papiers), entry-level factory workers (ouvriers spécialisés), highly intellectual Marxist-Leninist collectives, and militant special interest groups. While this book spans the broad history of this uncharted tradition, it particularly focuses on these lesser-known figures and works and the films of Cinélutte, Les groupes medvedkine, Atelier de recherche cinématographique, Cinéthique, and the influential Marxist filmmaker Jean-Pierre Thorn. Each represent a certain tendency of this movement in French film history, offering an invaluable account of a tradition that also sought to share untold histories.
- Table of Contents
- Acknowledgments
- List of Abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1. Wildcat Strikes and Wildcat Cinema in May ’68: ARC
- 2. Jean-Pierre Thorn: “No investigation, no right to speak”
- 3. Cinélutte: “Tout ce qui bouge est rouge”
- 4. Les groupes Medvedkine: Before and After Chris Marker
- 5. Of Theory and Peasants: Groupe Cinéthique
- Conclusion
- Notes
- Filmography
- Bibliography
- Index