Category Archives: Director of the Month

Ken Russell, who died recently at the age of 84, was an director known primarily for his flamboyant visual style.  His most famous films are Women in Love (1969), The Devils (1971), The Who’s Tommy (1975), and Altered States (1980).   … Continue reading →

Eric Rohmer, who died this week at the age of 89, was one of the leading lights of the French New Wave. His most famous films (in the U.S.) were features in the series, Six Moral Tales, including Ma nuit … Continue reading →

Iconoclastic American director, John Cassavetes is the featured director this month.Cassavetes, (1929-1989) is often viewed as America’s first truly independent filmmaker. His films often focus on feelings and character, rather a traditional narrative with a beginning and end. He was … Continue reading →

In honor of Chinese New Year, Chinese director Yimou Zhang is highlighted this month. Books on Chinese film can be found by doing a subject search in the catalog under “motion pictures–china”. Books and videos by and about Yimou Zhang, … Continue reading →

Spanish director Pedro Almodovar is August’s featured director. Spain’s most well known director, Almodovar’s works often focus on women and complex family relationships. DVD/Video 1986 Matador DVD PN1997 .M3698 2007 1987 Law of Desire DVD PN1997 .L47 2007 1988 Women … Continue reading →

John Ford, (1894-1973 is June’s Director of the month. Ford is considered a quintessential American director and is famous for his westerns and his adaptations of literary works. His pioneering work with location shooting and long shots influenced countless other … Continue reading →

Canadian director David Cronenberg is May’s featured director of the month. He is one of the primary filmmakers involved in body horror, or biological horror films. His earliest films, such as Scanners and The Brood, dealt with disease, physical transformation, … Continue reading →

The director of the month for April is Spike Lee . He first gained attention with the films She’s Gotta Have It and School Daze, which covered issues of race, gender and class. Although known for his films depicting race … Continue reading →

The director of the month for March is Federico Fellini. Born in 1920 in Rimini, Italy, Fellini began a long string of influential films in the 1950s. He, along with directors Rossellini, De Sica, and Visconti, is considered one of … Continue reading →

Elia Kazan had a long career, directing some of America’s classic films, such as On the Waterfront and A Streetcar Named Desire. Yet he was reviled by many for his testimony “naming names” before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) … Continue reading →