Synopses & Reviews
Why have films with diasporic family narratives increased in popularity in recent years? How do representations of the diasporic family differ from those of more dominant social groups? How does diasporic cinema negotiate the conventions of film genres commonly associated with the representation of the family?
In the age of globalisation, diasporic and other types of transnational family are increasingly represented in films such as East is East, Le Grand Voyage, Almanya - Welcome to Germany, Immigrant Memories, Couscous, When We Leave, Monsoon Wedding and My Big Fat Greek Wedding. While there is a significant body of scholarship on the representation of the family in Hollywood cinema, this is the first book to analyse the depiction of Black and Asian British, Maghrebi French and Turkish German families from a comparative transnational perspective.
Drawing on critical concepts from diaspora studies, anthropology, socio-historical research on diasporic families and the burgeoning field of transnational film studies, this book is an essential read for Film Studies scholars and students who are researching families and issues of race and ethnicity in cinema, the media and visual culture.
Review
Far-Flung Families in Film explores the conflicted tensions sustaining its key terms "diasporic" and "family". Giving full scope to the centrifugal and centripetal forces at work, Daniela Berghahn admirably proves that the "transnational turn" has energized not only filmmakers, but invigorated debate among the academic community as well.' - Thomas Elsaesser, author of European Cinema: Face to Face with Hollywood
'Daniela Berghahn provides a timely, wide-ranging, and engaging analysis of diasporic family films made by key directors from around the world living in Europe and identifies a new European cinema in the new multicultural Europe.' - Hamid Naficy, author of An Accented Cinema: Exilic and Diasporic Filmmaking
"The beautifully illustrated Far-Flung Families in Film is a milestone in the study of diasporic film and 'accented cinema' (Hamid Naficy), and it also marks a particularly original and much-needed contribution to transnational cinema studies. I would warmly recommend Daniela Berghahn's book to scholars, students, makers, promoters and critics of film as well as to learned cinema-goers." - Márta Minier, Transnational Cinemas
Synopsis
In-depth thematic study in the field of transnational film studies. In the age of globalisation, diasporic and other types of transnational family are increasingly represented across the film spectrum in works such as Bend It Like Beckham, The Namesake, Boys 'n the Hood, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and My Big Fat Greek Wedding. While there is a significant body of scholarship on the representation of the family in Hollywood cinema, an analysis of the depiction of the diasporic family in cinema from a comparative transnational angle has yet to be attempted. This book fills this gap and provides an essential resource for academics and researchers with an interest in cinematic representations of the family and transnational cinema.
Synopsis
This book fills this gap and provides an essential resource for academics and researchers with an interest in cinematic representations of the family and transnational cinema.
Synopsis
In the age of globalisation, diasporic and other types of transnational family are increasingly represented across the film spectrum in works such as Bend It Like Beckham, The Namesake, Boys 'n the Hood, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (The Brave Heart Will Take the Bride) and My Big Fat Greek Wedding. While there is a significant body of scholarship on the representation of the family in Hollywood cinema, an analysis of the depiction of the diasporic family in cinema from a comparative transnational angle has yet to be attempted. This book fills this gap and provides an essential resource for academics and researchers with an interest in cinematic representations of the family and transnational cinema.The work will answer the following key questions: 1. Why is diasporic cinema characterised by a preponderance of family narratives?2. How does the diasporic family as constructed in cinema relate to or differ from models of family life in dominant social groups?3. What role does authorship play in the depiction of the diasporic family?4. How does diasporic cinema negotiate the aesthetic and generic conventions of film genres commonly associated with the representation of the family?Key featureso In-depth thematic study in the field of transnational film studieso Truly international coverage, including traditions of non-Western film cultureso Interdisciplinary approach offering an original and innovative model to encourage further researcho Planned companion website with a searchable database of relevant films, bibliographical references and an interactive discussion forum on key issues and themes (if AHRC funding application is successful, the website will also include podcasts of interviews with a number of filmmakers and other industry professionals).
About the Author
Daniela Berghahn is Professor of Film Studies in the Media Arts Department at Royal Holloway, University of London. She has extensively published on German and transnational European cinema. Her publications include
Unity and Diversity in the New Europe (co-edited, 2000),
Hollywood Behind the Wall: The Cinema of East Germany (2005),
Turkish-German Dialogues on Screen (special issue New Cinemas, 2009) and
European Cinema in Motion: Migrant and Diasporic Film in Contemporary Europe (co-edited, 2010).
Table of Contents
List of Illustrations
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1 Family Matters in Diaspora
2 Families in Motion
3 Family Memories, Family Secrets
4 Gender, Generation and the Production of Locality in the Diasporic Family
5 Romance and Weddings in Diaspora
Bibliography
Index