This fresh, engaging volume provides the key ideas for a better understanding of today’s cinematic style and the reference terms that are crucial to film studies by challenging preconceived ideas and clichés about cinema. It defines the main notions of film, explains major dates in its history, deciphers the leading works, and presents the portraits of thirty great filmmakers. Original photographs of legendary actors and directors both on set and screen provide real insight into their glamorous world, and a glossary of key film terms ensures that the reader is never overwhelmed by jargon. If you want to understand and talk about film, Talk About Cinema offers alternative ideas that address numerous time periods and movements, synthesizing all the important information into one fun, didactic, and readable volume.