Truffaut on Cinema

by François Truffaut, Anne Gillain (Editor), Alistair Fox (Translation)

"The writings reveal a Truffaut who was as incisive and direct in assessing his own work as he was in assessing the work of other directors." --Choice

Between 1959 and 1984, French film director Fran�ois Truffaut was interviewed over three hundred times. Each interview offers critical insight into the genesis of Truffaut's films as he shares the sources of his inspiration, the choice of his themes, and the development of his screenplays. In addition, Truffaut discusses his relationships with collaborators, actors, and the circumstances surrounding the shooting of each film.

These texts, originally assembled by Anne Gillain and published in French in 1988, are presented here in a montage arranged chronologically by film. This compilation includes an impressive array of reflections on cinema as an art form. Truffaut defines the aims and practices of the French New Wave, comparing their efforts to the films made by their predecessors and including comments that encompass the entire history of cinema. Truffaut on Cinema provides commentary on contemporary events, a wealth of biographical information, and Truffaut's own artistic itinerary.

Genres: Film, Collections

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 8, 1988

About the author

François Roland Truffaut was an award-winning and influential filmmaker, critically acclaimed worldwide. He was also a talented and sought-after film critic in France (most notably, his work for Cahiers du Cinema), and one of the founders of the French New Wave and the auteur theory; he remains an icon of the French film industry. In a film career lasting over a quarter of a century, he was also a screenwriter, producer or occasional actor in over twenty-five films.

Reviews

[Ricardo Santos]

Livro fundamental para qualquer cinéfilo. Truffaut comenta, por meio de entrevistas, cada um de seus filmes. Vemos suas alegrias e decepções na realização de cada um deles, a recepção da crítica, a relação com outros diretores e as influências. Ver ou rever cada filme e depois ler a entrevista correspondente é um exercício bem interessante.

[TrumanCoyote]

All unfortunately coming off a bit tedious, as FT's monomaniacal tendencies come more and more to the fore (a situation not helped any by the interviewer's rather humorless and insular approach). Also I must say that Franc's pronouncements about things can seem decidedly oracular--as well as debatable...and he does seem to act as though his statements about the intent of his films are definitive (and no one is allowed to hold a divergent opinion about their effects).

[Falso Prusiano]

[paola]

ai truffaut como vc falava coisas tão inteligentes e outras tão burras. enfim valeu a pena li muita entrevista!!