Doomed Bourgeois in Love : Essays on the Films of Whit Stillman

by Mark C. Henrie (Editor)

Critics have praised the films of writer-director Whit Stillman for their exceptionally intelligent portrayal of the lives and loves of the urban haute bourgeoisie. His three comedies of manners -- Metropolitan, Barcelona, and The Last Days of Disco -- sparkle with urbane and ironic wit. In Doomed Bourgeois in Love, the cultural critic Mark C. Henrie brings together a collection of political theorists, literary critics, and classicists to explore the meaning of Stillman's films.

Genres: Film

176 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2001

Reviews

[adam]

See, this book has me torn. On the one hand, it's a collection of pedantic, over-analytical essays composed by middling associate professors hailing from no-name midwestern liberal arts colleges. Which is to say, prepare to give your facial muscles a good workout from frequent cringing. On the other hand, Whit Stillman's three films are among my favorites, and because they are sort of nerdy, dialogue-heavy, and literate, they are not the worst subjects for academic treatment. And I'll be damned if the collection didn't convince me of its central argument: that Stillman's movies-even though they are movies-belong to the tradition of great humanist literature. So I am willing to give the contributing film studies professors a break. But just this once.

[Ed]

Great insights into one of my favorite directors: Whit Stillman who made Metropolitan, Barcelona and the Last Days of Disco. This book gives really interesting insights into both the movies and a certain conservative mindset that is so far beyond the current yahooery as to be a different belief system. Interesting comedy of manners, the Jane Austen of its day interesting analyzed from many sides in varied essays

[John C.]

Very light insight buried amidst mounds of plot synopsis and quotes. Still enjoyed it because Whit Stillman's movies are some of my absolute favorites. If you feel the same, there's no reason you shouldn't read it.

[John]

I’ve been meaning to get to this for ages and it was pretty great definitely a bust read for any fan of films. The only reason it isn’t five stars is because given that it’s a collection of different pieces and reviews written by different people at different times not necessarily specifically for the book there is a lot of overlap but when the dialogue says great as it is with Stillman’s films, that’s still pretty good.

[Noah]

quería dejarlo en leyendo hasta que acabe el tfg pero me dan angustia estas movidas tan tontas

[Jonathan]

None

[Rick Scott]

Nice critical overview of Stillman's Doomed trilogy.