Love and Friendship in Contemporary French Cinema
S06
Isabel Roche
The concepts of love and friendship are central to many cultures, but their defining parameters and the degree to which they are understood as interrelated can vary widely from culture to culture. In this course, we explore the ways in which relationships of love and friendship are represented in contemporary French cinema. In looking at the ways in which elements of the romantic and platonic connections depicted maintain or contradict stereotypes about the French, we will seek to develop a clearer understanding of the universal and culturally specific aspects of these concepts. We will also study the ways in which the screen lends itself to reconstructing human relationships.

Throughout the term, students will complete a variety of written and oral exercises, with emphasis placed on the cognitive goal of recognizing underlying cultural principles as well as on the further development of narrative, descriptive, analytical, and research skills. Films include Un Coeur en hiver, Chacun cherche son chat, Marius et Jeanette, Le diner de cons, and Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amelie Poulin. Students also undertake a research project on a topic related to the course. Conducted in French. Intermediate level.