Writing National Cinema: Film Journals and Film Culture in Peru (Interfaces: Studies in Visual Culture)

Writing National Cinema traces the twenty-year history of the Peruvian film journal Hablemos de cine alongside that of Peruvian filmmaking and film culture. Similar to the influential French journal Cahiers du cinéma, Hablemos de cine began with a group of young critics interested in claiming the director’s use of mise-en-scène as the exclusive method of film analysis rather than thematic or star-oriented topics — hence, the title of the publication, derived from their battle cry at post-screening discussions: “Let’s talk about film.” Their critical authority grew with the rise of local filmmaking and the nationalist fervor of the late 1960s and early 1970s. When government sponsorship spurred feature filmmaking in the mid-1970s, their perspective eschewed the politically militant readings that characterized most writing and film from the rest of Latin America at the time. By the 1980s, the critics at Hablemos de cine had helped to engender a commercial, Hollywood-influenced cinematic vision—best exemplified by Peruvian auteur Francisco Lombardi—and stimulated a unique, if isolating, national identity through film. The first book-length study of Peruvian film culture to appear in English, Middents’s work offers thoughtful consideration of the impact of criticism on the visual stylings of a national cinema. Writing National Cinema Traces The Twenty-year History Of The Peruvian Film Journal Hablemos De Cine Alongside That Of Peruvian Filmmaking And Film Culture. Similar To The Influential French Journal Cahiers Du Cinema, Hablemos De Cine Began With A Group Of Young Critics Interested In Claiming The Director's Use Of Mise-en-scene As The Exclusive Method Of Film Analysis Rather Than Thematic Or Star-oriented Topics - Hence, The Title Of The Publication, Derived From Their Battle Cry At Post-screening Discussions: Let's Talk About Film. Their Critical Authority Grew With The Rise Of Local Filmmaking And The Nationalist Fervor Of The Late 1960s And Early 1970s. When Government Sponsorship Spurred Feature Filmmaking In The Mid-1970s, Their Perspective Eschewed The Politically Militant Readings That Characterized Most Writing And Film From The Rest Of Latin America At The Time. By The 1980s, The Critics At Hablemos De Cine Had Helped To Engender A Commercial, Hollywood-influenced Cinematic Vision - Best Exemplified By Peruvian Auteur Francisco Lombardi - And Stimulated A Unique, If Isolating, National Identity Through The Film. The First Book-length Study Of Peruvian Film Culture To Appear In English, Middents's Work Offers A Thoughtful Consideration Of The Impact Of Criticism On The Visual Stylings Of A National Cinema.--jacket. A History Of The Peruvian Cinematic Tradition -- Publication, Authority, Identity: Constructing The Film Journal -- Shaping Peruvian Taste: Good And Bad Peruvian Movies -- Latin American Dis/connections: Peru Versus The New Latin American Cinema -- For A Few Minutes: Considering The Short-film Industry -- Creating The Lombardi Generation: The Rise Of An Urban Cinematic Aesthetic -- The Changing Of The Guard: Peruvian Cinema In The Twenty-first Century. Jeffrey Middents. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 251-263) And Index. Title Page 4 Contents 6 Acknowledgments 8 Introduction 12 1 | A History of the Peruvian Cinematic Tradition 26 2 | Publication, Authority, Identity 54 3 | Shaping Peruvian Taste 78 4 | Latin American Dis/Connections 107 5 | For a Few Minutes 138 6 | Creating the “Lombardi Generation” 159 7 | The Changing of the Guard 191 Notes 228 Bibliography 262 Index 276 This work by Jeffrey Middents considers the development and influence of the Peruvian film journal *Hablemos de cine*, and its relation to the Peruvian political culture of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. It is the first English-language, book-length examination of Peruvian film.