Samuel LoveFor many years, the BFI Film Classics series has been – quite rightly – considered to be among the holy texts for film enthusiasts. The books, which aim to “introduce, interpret and celebrate” landmarks of cinema, each focus on one particular title and studiously dissect all aspects of it in a bite-size, accessible format. The impeccably researched books are stuffed with fascinating insight and thought, but never feel too elitist or pretentious – a frequent issue in these sorts of scholarly film texts. And just as refreshing is their lengths. At around 100 or so pages, they’re easily digested in a single sitting. These books offer the opportunity for anyone – regardless of their cinema knowledge – to dabble in the study of film.
The range continues to be incredibly diverse – a recent volume released on Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Cure (1997) sits comfortably alongside more traditional ‘classic’ fare like The Godfather and Stanley Kubrick’s works. As the first part of their three-word mission statement is “introduce”, it’s nice to see BFI also championing slightly more niche – albeit equally influential – titles in this series. It is nice to consider enthusiasts discovering new favourites through this carefully curated set of books.
But ‘blockbuster’ fare is explored too – there are entries on each of the original Star Wars trilogy, for example, and a recent release on Steven Spielberg’s masterful sci-fi adventure Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). No film is ever sneered at or looked down upon in any way; these books are entirely celebratory. That’s not to say that the rose-tinted glasses of the authors make them blind to a film’s potential shortcomings or flaws, but rather, they are discussed in such a way that is respectful and considered.
The BFI Film Classics series continues to thrive, with new entries dropping throughout the year along with reissues of older entries in the gorgeous new art style that has become the standard. Even if you just consider yourself a casual film fan, take a look at the range at BFI Shop here. There’ll be a volume on one of your favourite films, I guarantee it. Grab a copy and see just how wonderful these books are. Gorgeously produced/printed, they’re worth the price of purchase before you’ve even read a single word! But once you get going, you’ll be enthralled and informed by these texts that celebrate and champion films like no other publications.
The BFI Film and TV Classics ranges introduce, interpret and celebrate landmarks of world cinema and television. Each volume offers an argument for the work’s ‘classic’ status, together with discussion of its production and reception history, its place within a genre or national cinema, an account of its technical and aesthetic importance, and in many cases, the author’s personal response to the film.
Almost 30 years since its inception and with nearly 200 films addressed, the celebrated BFI Film Classics line launched a new look in 2020 featuring specially-commissioned cover artwork from leading illustrators, designers and photographers.
‘Magnificently concentrated examples of flowing freeform critical poetry.’ Uncut
‘A formidable body of work collectively generating some fascinating insights into the evolution of cinema.’ Times Higher Education Supplement
‘The series is a landmark in film criticism.’ Quarterly Review of Film and Video
‘Possibly the most bountiful book series in the history of film criticism.’ Jonathan Rosenbaum, Film Comment
