Positif 50 Years: Selected writings from the French Film Journal [Paperback]

Vincent Amiel (Author), Robert Benayoun (Author), Thomas Bourguignon (Author), Emmanuel Carrere (Author), Bernard Chadere (Author), Lorenzo Codelli (Author), Jean-Pierre Coursodon (Author), Olivier De Bruyn (Author), Jacques Demeure (Author), Alain Garsautl (Author), Jacques Goimard (Author), Stephane Goudet (Author), Michael Henry (Author), NoIl Herpe (Author), Jean-Pierre Jeancolas (Author), Isabelle Jordan (Author), Olivier Kohn (Author), Petr Kral (Author), Ado Kyrou (Author), Gerard Legrand (Author), Laurence Kardish (Editor), Michel Ciment (Contributor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0870706888 | ISBN-13: 978-0870706882 | Publication Date: January 2, 2003

To celebrate the 50th Anniversary and the 500th issue of the French film journal Positif--voila! What could satisfy the cinephile more than an anthology, in English, of the very best Positif articles from the last five decades? A preeminent film magazine since its inception, the monthly Positif has always been at the forefront of critical thought, discerning trends in cinema as they are happening. With over 40 articles covering some of the most notable films of the past 50 years, this compendium reveals how the magazine accomplished that very feat throughout its existence. Read Bernard ChardAre on Luis Bunuel's Los Olvidados, Paul-Louis Thirard on Maurice Burnan, Robert Benayoun on Frederico Fellini, and other critics on flicks from The African Queen and Hiroshima mon Amour to Reservoir Dogs and Fanny and Alexander. With an introduction by Michel Ciment, the editor of the magazine, and articles by distinguished critics and practitioners, this compilation pays tribute to both the importance of films and the lasting value of Positif.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Laurence Kardish is Curator and Coordinator of film exhibitions in the Department of Film and Media at The Museum of Modern Art, New York.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: The Museum of Modern Art, New York (January 2, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0870706888
• ISBN-13: 978-0870706882
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,106,801 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable, entertaining read, June 29, 2007

By 

Steward Willons (Illinois) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Positif 50 Years: Selected writings from the French Film Journal (Paperback)

This is a nice little collection of writings from the influential French film journal, Positif. There are a good range of articles all the way from Neo-realism and new wave to a review of Lynch's "Lost Highway". The book is aimed at popular consumption with it's sprinkling of photos and its handsome layout, as opposed to a more scholarly anthology of critical writings. This book is perfect for fans of the cinema that enjoy occasional criticism without getting into the really theoretical stuff. It's definitely a nice addition to the ubiquitous Ebert or Maltin review book. It's also interesting to see the reception history of classic films - as we know, not every masterpiece was treated as such from the beginning. The articles are fairly short ranging from two to four pages - perfect for picking it up for a quick, enjoyable read. If I have one criticism it's that I would have enjoyed more essays. The publisher should issue a second volume.

By the way - the image Amazon displays is not the actual cover of the book. I have no idea why this picture is here.