BF253 Languages: American Film Classics (Remote)

Discover and discuss masterpieces of American cinema in this class for intermediate and advanced English speakers. You’ll watch a film at home on streaming, or borrow the DVD from your local library, before a lively and engaging discussion in class. You’ll be assigned one scene to watch at least three times! Every month you’ll view a film in a different genre (film noir, western, comedy, etc.) from an influential director so you’ll come to know the stylistic hallmarks of favorite genres and filmmakers. If you love the movies, this course is an enjoyable way to increase vocabulary, get comfortable with idiomatic expressions, improve your conversational skills, and deepen your understanding of American culture and cinema.

In February's class, you will discuss “Notorious” (1946), by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman. This spy-thriller has the qualities of Hitchcock’s best films: building tension and suspense, manipulation of time and space, love intrigue, Hollywood stars, and especially inventive use of camera movement and editing.

About the instructor: Ellen Feldman grew up in Philadelphia and currently lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She holds a Ph.D. in cinema studies from New York University and has taught film studies at the State University of New York, Geneseo campus, and Brooklyn College.