ReFocus: The Films of Francis Veber

Keith Corson

Published by Edinburgh University Press 2019

ReFocus

The Films of Francis Veber

Keith Corson

In the series ReFocus: The International Directors Series

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781474429504

Overview
Contents

About this book

Analyses how the French director Francis Veber uses comedy to make serious social commentaries

Few directors have played such a prominent role as Francis Veber in shaping the cinematic identity of France over the past forty years, yet in many ways his chosen genre of comedy has relegated his work to the margins of Film Studies. Using an auterist lens to challenge the notions of taste, genre and aesthetics that are commonly used to form the cinematic canon, this book explores the twelve films Veber directed between 1976 and 2008. These include Le Jouet (1976), Les fugitifs (1986) and L’emmerdeur (2008).

Considering also Veber’s extensive work as a playwright, theatre director and screenwriter – as well as the numerous remakes and adaptations of his films in Hollywood – author Keith Corson focuses on issues of class, labour and politics to examine the ways in which Veber embeds serious social critiques in his mainstream films.

Key features

The first scholarly book dedicated to Francis Veber’s films and career
Considers the twelve films Veber directed between 1976 and 2008, his extensive work as a playwright, theatre director and screenwriter
Bridges scholarship on French and American cinema, speaking to transnational discourses within film studies

Case studies

Le Jouet (1976)
La chèvre (1981)
Les compères (1983)
Les fugitifs (1986)
Three Fugitives (1989)
Out on a Limb (1992)
Le jaguar (1996)
Le diner de cons (1998)
Le placard (2001)
Tais-toi! (2003)
La doublure (2006)
L’emmerdeur (2008)

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Figures Publicly Available Download PDF	vi
Acknowledgments Publicly Available Download PDF	viii
1 Francis Veber and the Canon Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
2 Toy Story: Le jouet (1976) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	15
3 Mexican Holiday: La chèvre (1981) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	31
4 The Road to Fatherhood: Les compères (1983) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	46
5 The Great Escape: Les fugitifs (1986) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	58
6 Francis Goes to Hollywood: Three Fugitives (1989) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	69
7 A Parisian in America: Out on a Limb (1992) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	82
8 Rainforest Redemption: Le jaguar (1996) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	91
9 The Art of Canned Theatre: Le dîner de cons (1998) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	100
10 Closet Conservatives: Le placard (2001) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	116
11 Repetition and Revision: Tais-toi! (2003) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	126
12 Modern Times: La doublure (2006) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	134
13 The Last Picture Show: L’emmerdeur (2008) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	143
Conclusion: The Precarious State of National Cinemas Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	153
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	158
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	161

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
Audience: College/higher education;
Pages
- Main content: 176
Illustrations
- Other: 15 B/W illustrations
Keywords: Film, Media & Cultural Studies

eBook

Published: April 5, 2022
ISBN: 9781474429504