New Realisms: Contemporary British Cinema

British realism has evolved significantly in the last 20 years, with directors like Duane Hopkins, Joanna Hogg, Andrea Arnold, Shane Meadows, and Clio Barnard embracing a poetic approach that rejects instrumentalism and didacticism. This book explores this new tradition of British cinema, reigniting debates over realism that have been ongoing for decades.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2020
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

British realism has undergone significant transformation over the past 20 years, with a notable shift towards a poetic approach. This new realism challenges the instrumentalism and didacticism of filmmakers like Ken Loach, embracing lyrical and often ambiguous encounters with place. It explores the interplay between the physical processes of lived experience and the rhythms of everyday life, offering a fresh perspective on British cinema. This book examines the work of five filmmakers – Duane Hopkins, Joanna Hogg, Andrea Arnold, Shane Meadows, and Clio Barnard – as case studies, delving into the depth of this new tradition and reigniting debates about realism that have long fascinated scholars.

Weight: 488g
Dimension: 161 x 241 x 14 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474413039