FREN 386 - Images of Leadership in French Women Directors

Prerequisite, FREN 201, or consent of instructor. This course explores the works of French and Francophone women directors, how they have demonstrated leadership through their artistic vision. Special emphasis will be placed on French cinema of the 1960 and 1970s, examining its connections to the feminist movement and its enduring influence. Students will read essays and analyze iconic films by directors such as Agnès Varda, Chantal Akerman, Catherine Breillat, Céline Sciamma, Agnès Jaoui, Mati Diop, and Maïmouna Doucouré. The course will also explore how Francophone women directors have responded to the #MeToo movement, to empower themselves to assert their artistic, economic, and political demands. Recent acclaimed works, including Anatomy of a Fall (Justine Triet, 2022) and The Substance (Coralie Fargeat, 2024), will provide a framework for discussing contemporary advancements in representation and narrative authority within the industry. Letter grade. (Offered as needed.) 3 credits