Cinema Beyond the City: Small-Town and Rural Film Culture in Europe eds. by Judith Thissen and Clemens Zimmermann (review)

Except for the era of early cinema, European film historiography has focused almost exclusively on urban areas and cultural capitals, neglecting rural and small-town exhibitors and their audiences. Cinema Beyond the City breaks away from this monolithic approach to explore the economic, cultural and social dynamics of moviegoing in the countryside. Although limited to Western Europe, it has a broad scope as the case studies range across a century and examine different topics. The volume is deliberately organized in a way that encourages the reader to compare and contrast the various case studies. Inspired by the New Cinema History, the authors address key questions about access, geography, economic viability, programming practices, audience behavior, and the relationship between film consumption and broader societal processes. All contributions are firmly rooted in empirical research. Together they document the amazing diversity that characterizes film culture in the European countryside in the past and present, without overlooking however the common grounds between rural and urban audiences.

Cover of the Catholic youth magazine Jeune Rurale with the actress Danielle Delorme, the star of La Cage aux filles, April 1950.