Postcards from the Cinema

Postcards from the Cinema is the book Serge Daney, one of the greatest of film critics, never wrote. It is based around an interview that was to be the starting point for a book, a project cut short by Daney's death. Postcards turns a history of cinema into a profound meditation on the art and politics of film. Daney's passionate and lucid engagement with film, combined with his concern for journalistic clarity, effectively created film criticism as a genre. Equally at home with the theories of Deleuze, Lacan and Debord as he was with the movie-making of Bunuel, Godard and Ray, Daney was also a fan of Jerry Lewis and Hitchcock. At the same time - and before his time - he championed the critical analysis of television and other audio-visual media. Long-awaited, this is the first book-length translation of Daney's work, testimony to a life lived with a fierce love of film. Postcards From The Cinema Is The Book Serge Daney, One Of The Greatest Of Film Critics, Never Wrote. It Is Based Around An Interview That Was To Be The Starting Point For A Book, A Project Cut Short By Daney's Death. Postcards Turns A History Of Cinema Into A Profound Meditation On The Art And Politics Of Film. Daney's Passionate And Lucid Engagement With Film, Combined With His Concern For Journalistic Clarity, Effectively Created Film Criticism As A Genre. Equally At Home With The Theories Of Deleuze, Lacan And Debord As He Was With The Movie-making Of Bunuel, Godard And Ray, Daney Was Also A Fan Of Jerry Lewis And Hitchcock. At The Same Time - And Before His Time - Championed The Critical Analysis Of Television And Other Audio-visual Media. Long-awaited, This Is The First Book-length Translation Of Daney's Work, Testimony To A Life Lived With A Fierce Love Of Film.-- Frontpiece. Introduction : The History Of An Absence / Paul Douglas Grant -- The Tracking Shot In Kapo -- Cine-biography -- Cinema And History -- Cinephile In Transit -- A Night In Ronda -- Cinema Would Be The Promise Of The World -- Cinema And Communism : In Defense Of A Counter-society -- Experience : From Cahiers Du Cinéma To Libération -- Cinema And Television : Departure And Return -- The Two Cinemas. Serge Daney ; Translated By Paul Douglas Grant. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [145]-149). Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 Introduction: The History of an Absence......Page 12 Preface to the French Edition......Page 22 Part I......Page 26 1. The Tracking Shot in Kapo......Page 28 Part II......Page 48 2. Cine-biography......Page 50 Part III......Page 98 3. Cinema and History......Page 100 4. Cinephile in Transit......Page 108 5. A Night in Ronda......Page 112 6. Cinema Would be the Promise of the World......Page 118 7. Cinema and Communism: In Defense of a Counter Society......Page 128 8. Experience: From Cahiers du cinéma to Libération......Page 134 9. Cinema and Television: Departure and Return......Page 142 10. The Two Cinemas......Page 150 Notes......Page 156