Feminist Film Theory and ‘Cléo from 5 to 7’

In this useful entry in Bloomsbury’s Film Theory in Practice series, Neroni (The Subject of Torture) clearly and helpfully explains concepts that are important to feminist film theory, using French director Agnès Varda’s 1962 film Cléo from 5 to 7 as a case study. Specifically, she discusses audience identification with screen characters, the depiction of the female body onscreen, and the role of female directors. Neroni explains that, as historically practiced in the film industry, the first two concepts have embodied patriarchal attitudes. She also shows how directors, particularly women, can subvert these associations through formal experimentation and intentionally disruptive techniques. Cléo is a rich subject for study, and the author’s analysis is nuanced. Perhaps because the book is intended as a 101-style introduction, the content can be repetitive and the summaries of scenes analyzed overly detailed. Nonetheless, the work’s accessibility makes this an invaluable primer on film theory. One hopes the rest of the series is just as well executed and that Neroni’s voice will often be heard in future. [em](Jan.) [/em]