Auteur Theory: French word for Author
DEFINITION
An auteur is someone who has a specific signature, which they apply to each of their pieces of work.
FRANCOIS TRUFFAUT (French)
Within the industrial process, voice of auteur is distinct and shines through the studios interference, as well as collective process.
ANDREW SARRIS (American)
A film director who's influenced their film so much that they rank as the films author
Originally apart of 'Cahiers due Cinema'
Helped to widen the influence of the theory
Wrote 1954 essay "Une Certaine Tendence due Cinema Francais" = "A certain tendency in french cinema'
Distinctive style or promotes consistent theme
Results with their influence being unmistakable in their body of work
He tried to define the theory
Wrote "The Village Voice"
Late 60's published "The American Cinema: Directors and Directions"
It became the unofficial bible of Auteur Theory
THEORY
The director brings the film to life and uses the film to express their thoughts and feelings of the subject, as well as a world view as an Auteur
Sarris presented this theory with Roger Leenhardt
CONTEXT
America developed auteur theory, although France is where it originated from in 1954
Originally associated with film critics that wrote for french film review periodical 'Cahiers due Cinema', as well as 'French new wave'
Truffaut was apart of this group of individuals
Originally associated with Francois Truffaut
Influences film criticism since 1954 #
PAULINE KAEL
Condemned Andrew Sarris and the Auteur Theory
She stated that 'for a film to be enjoyed, it does not have to adhere to a narrow theory'
Believes we judge artists by the movies not the movies by the artist
It proposed that the director is the true author of the given film
Advocated it
He was a director and film critic
Argued that film should reflect directors personal vision
Published five years before his first feature film
An Auteur is a director who establishes a particular style and uses it in most or all of their films; the directors creative voice is particularly distinctive.
Translated to 'Championed Filmmakers'
Absolute Auteurs
Satyajit Ray
Howard Hawks
Alfred Hitchcock
Jean Renoir
Alexandre Astruc's
Notion of Camera-stylo or " Camer-pen'
Encourages directors to wield camera as writers use pens
Hallemark
Problems With Auteur Theory
Always fluctuating/changing
Can only do it if you have your own production company
Collaborative nature - Suggests director cannot have complete control
Definition fluctuates - it is Ambiguous
Defining quality - due to audiences relationship with the Auteur
Original definitions could be outdated
Hallmark
They have power over every aspect of the film process
Wrote "Notes on the Auteur Theory in 1962"
Defines Auteur Theory as 'the director is the author of a film, the person who gives it any distinctive quality"