THE CINEMA OF THE LOW COUNTRIES

Films from the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg have long been regarded as isolated texts. The Cinema of the Low Countries points to the interconnectedness between these national cinemas from the point of view of genre, language and format, and their local and international importance by explicitly focusing on 24 key feature films and documentaries from the region. Building on each film's relationship with its particular cultural context, this volume presents 24 specially commissioned essays that explore the particular significance and influence of a wide range of exemplary films. Covering the work of internationally-acclaimed directors such as Joris Ivens, Henri Stock, Paul Verhoeven and the Dardenne Brothers and featuring the films Turkish Delight, The Vanishing, Daughters of Darkness, Rosetta, Soldiers of Orange and Man Bites Dog, this collection offers an original approach to the appreciation of a diverse and increasingly important regional cinema.

June 2004
288 pages

978-1–904764–00–7 (pbk)	£18.99	£16.14 with 15% online discount - add to basket
978-1–904764–01–4 (hbk)	£50.00	£42.50 with 15% online discount - add to basket

Ernest Mathijs is Assistant Professor in Film and Theatre Studies at the University of British Columbia, Canada. He is author of The Cinema of David Cronenberg (2008) and co-editor of both Alternative Europe: Eurotrash and Exploitation Cinema Since 1945 (2004) and Big Brother International: Formats, Critics and Publics (2004).

'This highly inspiring look at the frequently unrecognised cinema of the Low Countries fosters a better understanding of the lesser-known history, society and culture of the Benelux nations.'
– Paul Lesch, Centre National de l'Audiovisuel, Luxembourg

‘For readers in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg this is a surprising opportunity to abandon the confines of national filmmaking and a chance to explore the film culture of the Benelux without the "europudding" connotations.'
– Wim Staat, University of Amsterdam

'It's been a while since there has been a book on film that informed and entertained as much as The Cinema of the Low Countries did ... A surprisingly good read ... It makes you care, and seek out, the little and neglected brother of the Film industry.'
– www.close-upfilm.com