The 13 Film Movements That Shaped Cinema

Cinema has been around for more than a century, and throughout its history, it has been shaped by a variety of film movements. From the earliest days of silent films to the present day, these movements have had a major influence on the development of cinema. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at 13 of the most influential film movements that have shaped cinema.

The history of cinema is a long one, and it is filled with a variety of film movements that have had a major impact on the art form. While some of these movements have faded away over time, others have remained influential and have shaped the way we watch films and experience cinema today. It is important to understand the history of these movements and how they have shaped the way we experience cinema.

French Impressionism

The French Impressionist movement was a major influence on early cinema, and it was a precursor to the development of the art house film. This movement was characterized by the use of non-linear editing, unconventional camera angles, and the use of natural lighting. It also favored the use of long takes and slow-moving camera work. This movement was influential in the development of the French New Wave, which was a major influence on the development of modern cinema. French Impressionism was a major influence on filmmakers such as Jean-Luc Godard, François Truffaut, and Éric Rohmer, who were all major figures in the French New Wave.

Soviet Montage

The Soviet Montage movement was a major influence on the development of cinema in the Soviet Union. This movement was characterized by the use of rapid-fire editing, which was used to create a sense of energy and excitement. This movement was also characterized by the use of symbolic images and the juxtaposition of contrasting images. This movement was influential in the development of the French New Wave, as well as the Italian Neorealism movement. Soviet Montage was a major influence on filmmakers such as Sergei Eisenstein, Vsevolod Pudovkin, and Dziga Vertov, who were all major figures in the development of Soviet cinema.

German Expressionism

The German Expressionist movement was a major influence on the development of cinema in Germany. This movement was characterized by the use of highly stylized sets and lighting, as well as the use of exaggerated camera angles and framing. This movement was influential in the development of film noir, as well as the horror genre. German Expressionism was a major influence on filmmakers such as Fritz Lang, Robert Wiene, and F.W. Murnau, who were all major figures in the development of German cinema.

Italian Neorealism

The Italian Neorealism movement was a major influence on the development of Italian cinema. This movement was characterized by the use of non-professional actors, location shooting, and the use of real-life situations. This movement was influential in the development of the French New Wave, as well as the American independent film movement. Italian Neorealism was a major influence on filmmakers such as Roberto Rossellini, Vittorio De Sica, and Luchino Visconti, who were all major figures in the development of Italian cinema.

French New Wave

The French New Wave was a major influence on the development of cinema in France. This movement was characterized by the use of improvisation, non-linear editing, and the use of handheld cameras. This movement was influential in the development of the modern art house film, as well as the development of the New Hollywood movement. The French New Wave was a major influence on filmmakers such as Jean-Luc Godard, François Truffaut, and Éric Rohmer, who were all major figures in the development of French cinema.

British New Wave

The British New Wave was a major influence on the development of British cinema. This movement was characterized by the use of real-life situations, the use of non-professional actors, and the use of handheld cameras. This movement was influential in the development of the New Hollywood movement, as well as the development of the modern art house film. The British New Wave was a major influence on filmmakers such as Lindsay Anderson, Tony Richardson, and Karel Reisz, who were all major figures in the development of British cinema.

New Hollywood

The New Hollywood movement was a major influence on the development of American cinema. This movement was characterized by the use of improvisation, the use of non-linear editing, and the use of a variety of cinematic techniques. This movement was influential in the development of the modern blockbuster, as well as the development of the independent film movement. The New Hollywood movement was a major influence on filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, and Steven Spielberg, who were all major figures in the development of American cinema.

Japanese New Wave

The Japanese New Wave was a major influence on the development of Japanese cinema. This movement was characterized by the use of surreal imagery, the use of non-linear editing, and the use of a variety of cinematic techniques. This movement was influential in the development of the modern art house film, as well as the development of the modern horror film. The Japanese New Wave was a major influence on filmmakers such as Nagisa Oshima, Shohei Imamura, and Akira Kurosawa, who were all major figures in the development of Japanese cinema.

Dogme 95

The Dogme 95 movement was a major influence on the development of cinema in Denmark. This movement was characterized by the use of hand-held cameras, the use of natural lighting, and the use of real-life situations. This movement was influential in the development of the modern art house film, as well as the development of the American independent film movement. Dogme 95 was a major influence on filmmakers such as Lars von Trier, Thomas Vinterberg, and Kristian Levring, who were all major figures in the development of Danish cinema.

Digital Cinema

The Digital Cinema movement was a major influence on the development of modern cinema. This movement was characterized by the use of digital cameras and digital editing tools, as well as the use of non-linear editing. This movement was influential in the development of the modern blockbuster, as well as the development of the modern art house film. Digital Cinema was a major influence on filmmakers such as David Fincher, Steven Soderbergh, and Christopher Nolan, who were all major figures in the development of modern cinema.

Mumblecore

The Mumblecore movement was a major influence on the development of American independent cinema. This movement was characterized by the use of improvisation, the use of non-professional actors, and the use of natural lighting. This movement was influential in the development of the modern art house film, as well as the development of the modern independent film movement. Mumblecore was a major influence on filmmakers such as Joe Swanberg, Mark Duplass, and Lynn Shelton, who were all major figures in the development of American independent cinema.

New Queer Cinema

The New Queer Cinema movement was a major influence on the development of LGBTQ cinema. This movement was characterized by the use of non-traditional storytelling, the use of non-traditional characters, and the use of a variety of cinematic techniques. This movement was influential in the development of the modern art house film, as well as the development of the modern independent film movement. New Queer Cinema was a major influence on filmmakers such as Gregg Araki, Todd Haynes, and John Waters, who were all major figures in the development of LGBTQ cinema.

Cinema of the Future

The Cinema of the Future movement is a relatively recent movement that is beginning to shape the future of cinema. This movement is characterized by the use of virtual reality, augmented reality, and interactive storytelling. This movement is influencing the way filmmakers tell stories and is pushing the boundaries of what is possible in cinema. Cinema of the Future is a major influence on filmmakers such as Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Steven Spielberg, and James Cameron, who are all major figures in the development of modern cinema.

These 13 film movements have had a major influence on the development of cinema over the past century. From the earliest days of silent films to the present day, these movements have shaped the way we watch films and experience cinema. While some of these movements have faded away over time, others have remained influential and have shaped the way we watch films and experience cinema today. It is important to understand the history of these movements and how they have shaped the way we experience cinema. If you’re interested in learning more about these film movements and their influence on cinema, be sure to check out the workshop “13 Film Movements That Shaped Cinema” by Jessy Moussallem.