Global Auteurs: Politics in the Films of Almod=var, Von Trier, and Winterbottom

Goss (English and communication, Saint Louis U., Madrid, Spain) examines the work of contemporary filmmakers Pedro Almodoovar, Lars von Trier, and Michael Winterbottom through auteur theory and aspects of cultural politics. He discusses the international film industry and auteur theory, which he applies to the films along with concepts of ideology, gender, formalism/realism, and psychoanalysis. Films are organized thematically: Almodoovar's films and gender, including All About My Mother/Todo sobre mi madre, Talk to Her/Hable con ella, and Volver; themes of outsiders and failed idealists in von Trier's films, including the "U-S-A: Land of Opportunity" trilogy and Manderlay; and explorations of family and gender relations and human rights in Winterbottom's works, such as The Claim and The Road to Guantanamo. The text is aimed at undergraduate and graduate students of film, global mass media, and contemporary Europe. Annotation c2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)