French Film Classics
French cinema from the arrival of sound through the present, taught by MIT's Global Studies and Languages faculty. The course tracks films alongside the technical shifts that shaped them, from early sound recording to later stylistic movements, and examines directorial style, the scriptwriter's role, and how schools like poetic realism or the New Wave took shape. Sessions connect films to the political events and ideologies surrounding their production and compare French cinema to other national traditions. Taught in English, with films screened using English subtitles, though students may write assignments in French. Materials include the MIT OpenCourseWare syllabus, film screening lists, and written assignments; there is no cost to access the course materials, and no certificate is offered through OCW.