Vivre Ici: Space, Place and Experience in Contemporary French Documentary

Vivre Ici explores the vast landscape of contemporary French documentary film, focusing on French space and place, and investigates the notion of documentary as experience. It explores the limits and possibilities of these places, the social and political consequences of these films, and the production climate for them.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 320 pages
\n Publication date: 19 March 2018
\n Publisher: Liverpool University Press
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Vivre Ici invites the reader on a captivating journey through the rich and diverse landscape of contemporary French documentary film, a genre that has undergone a remarkable resurgence in the past two decades. The films showcased in this collection are interconnected not merely by a shared fascination with capturing the "real," but also by a keen focus on French space and place. From the serene farms and untamed wilderness to the bustling roads, bustling schools, and urban fringe areas, these films delve into the intricate tapestry of everyday life and the myriad human and non-human experiences that unfold within these spaces.

Through a rigorous and interdisciplinary approach that incorporates phenomenology, film theory, eco-criticism, and cultural history, Levine delves into the concept of documentary as an immersive experience. She explores the compelling question of how and why these films, in the contemporary media landscape, strive to avoid argumentation and instead offer the viewer a profound sense of "being there." As a diverse group of filmmakers, both well-known and lesser-known, explore the boundaries and potentialities of these places, a fragmented and collage-like vision of France as seen and felt through documentary cameras emerges.

Beyond the realm of film analysis, Levine extends her exploration to examine the production climate for these films and their circulation within contemporary France. She delves into the social and political implications of these "films that matter" for the viewers who engage with them, shedding light on the profound impact they have on shaping perceptions, attitudes, and collective consciousness.

In conclusion, Vivre Ici offers a captivating exploration of the world of contemporary French documentary film, providing a deep and nuanced understanding of this genre's evolution, its artistic achievements, and its profound impact on society. Through its critical lens and interdisciplinary approach, this book invites readers to immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of French space and place, engaging with the films as immersive experiences that transport us to the heart of the human condition.

\n Weight: 620g\n
Dimension: 235 x 160 x 28 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781786940414\n \n