A general knowledge of the history of European cinema is required.

The main purpose of this course is to provide a framework within which students can approach today¿s European cinema from a variety of historical, and theoretical perspectives. Therefore, they will be able to acquire a firm grasp of the contextual background of present European cinema by having critical readings of the theoretical texts and applying the knowledge they achieve to analyze cinematic texts. Regarding to this, the competences that will be achieved consist of: 1- A broad knowledge of contemporary aesthetic and content issues of European Cinema(s). 2. Competence to identify movements, styles and social backgrounds of some European authors. 3. Competence to contextualize, analyse and discuss contemporary European cinema with particular attention to their growing transnational dimensions.

European cinema has generally been defined by its leading auteurs, National cinemas, low budget¿committed movies, aesthetic renovations, the issue of realism, and a deep humanist conception as its background. This course does not aim at explaining these concepts, but to examine three aspects of European movies which stem somehow from historically constructed identity of today¿s Europe. In this sense the intricate relationship existing among European cinema and depictions of city, body and otherness will be explored. The course, therefore is divided into three modules, and each module consisting of two lectures and seminars. The first module will be dedicated to study the image of the city as a setting, symbol and the socio-cultural organism. The depiction of the body in movies, one of the hallmarks of European cinema, will be the subject of the second module in order to address the image of body not only as an embodiment of desires, needs and sensations, but also as a site of political conflicts. Finally the last two weeks of the course will be engaged with the question of otherness in European cinema. In this module, apart from the issue of the migrant and diasporic films, a sample of eastern European cinema will be analysed.

1. Lectures: Theory-based classes. Students will acquire basic knowledge about the topics addressed in the class. Competences 1, 2 and 3 (1 ECTS). 2. Seminars - Practical sessions: The second part of classes will be dedicated to seminars, which provide an atmosphere to debate about a topic. A good performance in seminars consists of selecting one of scheduled films and preparing a discussion using readings assigned for the week and other academic references. Students should be ready to participate and provide topics for discussion on a daily basis. Competences 2 and 3 (0.5 ECTS) 3. Student's work. Guided study to theoretical contents and learning materials. Students will be required to write a final research paper on case study in relation to one of the three main modules of the course and two mid-term film reviews on the assigned films which they can freely select. Competences 2 and 3 (1.5 ECTS).