States of Danger and Deceit: The European Political Thriller in the 1970s - Paperback

by Rachel Hayward (Editor), Ellen Smith (Editor), Andy Willis (Editor)

This HOME film dossier revisits a key decade in European film history. The 1970s was a period of great social upheaval and these are the films that reflect it.

Back Jacket

A range of European filmmakers in the 1970s sought ways of making commercially minded films that explored some of the key political questions of the 1970s. This HOME film dossier revisits them in short, accessible pieces that will inspire those who are new to them to seek them out, and those who have seen them before to rush to see them again.

With street-fighting, political conspiracies and violent acts of terror taking place across the continent, the 1970s was a period of great social upheaval in Europe. Taking an accessible approach, this HOME film dossier gathers a range of contributors to revisit some of the key political thrillers that explored these issues on screen. Often marginalised in the writing about political cinema, this dossier offers an engagement with some of the films that were box office successes, bringing politics to commercial cinema audiences. Taking examples from across Europe, the chapters offer insights into a range of films that contributed to some of the key debates of the era. Running throughout is a concern with the idea of what constitutes a political cinema that would be seen by audiences. This brought criticism from some parts of the film community whilst others championed the likes of Costa-Gavras, Francesco Rosi and Elio Petri as some of the most significant filmmakers of the time.

States of danger and deceit brings back into focus some of the best and most influential, politically motived films made during one of Europe's most turbulent decades.

Author Biography

Rachel Hayward is Head of Film Strategy at HOME, Manchester

Ellen Smith is a freelance film writer, programmer and educator

Andy Willis is Professor of Film Studies at the University of Salford and Senior Visiting Curator: Film at HOME, Manchester