Desires for Reality: Radicalism and Revolution in Western European Film

Abstract

What was the progressive cinema of the 1960s? In the absence of any generally agreed definitions, differing ideas abound, originating from two areas: firstly, the critical/academic histories of 1960s cinema, and secondly the conception of a ‘progressive cinema’ that is apparent in a number of 1960s films. The initial point of departure for this study is the conflict that arises between these two areas: the progressive cinema of the 1960s, as articulated in its own artefacts, does not always fully support, verify or validate the idea of a progressive cinema of the 1960s to be found in critical/academic histories. This disparity will be used to orientate this study as it seeks to expand the parameters of the critical/academic histories in order to identify and conceptualise, in a sustained way, the progressive cinema of the 1960s.