A Sudden Flicker of Light : A Revisionist History of Movies

In tracing the progress, from the Lumiere Brothers to the Coens, Thomson glories in the great movies, but admits to increasing unease over what the medium has done to us-promoting fantasy, misleading models of sexual identity, the cult of authority, power, and happy endings. This revisionist history is as alert to technology and business as it is to art and fun in tracing our pursuit of the lifelike instead of life. By turns trenchant, lyrical, and comic, Thomson uncovers our addiction to voyeurism and villainy, and a habit of passivity that has betrayed our political and cultural identity. In a survey that reaches from 'Metropolis' to 'Rear Window' to 'Anora', this will redirect ideas about film everywhere.

Format/pages: hardback / 384 pages

ISBN: 9781668205730

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Year: 2026