The New French Extremism originated in France. It’s a movement that saw filmmakers move towards a darker and harsher field, as there was already a tendency that saw filmmakers to move towards the “shock” image, in this movement such as Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Gasper Noe, Catherine Breillat and Virginie Despentes pushed further into the extremity.

Some films from this movement; Delicatessen, Baise Moi, Seul Contre Tous, Romance, City of the Lost Children, Intimacy

This movement focused more on the arresting image and it’s the connection between the audience and the image was explored. It’s this sensitivity that saw films reveal deeper truths to the audiences through images that were concerned with the “feel of the moment”. This movement focused less on logic and politics but on the experience from the images. The stories were often minimal, and they were made up of a series of images that were concerned with being felt.

Some films from this movement; Into the Abyss, Grizzly Man, Alice in the Cities

This movement was concerned with showing and addressing the conditions of Italians in post-World War 2 Italy. It’s a movement characterized by films that had non-professional actors, were shot on location, and primarily focused on the poor and the working class. Federico Fellini, Mario Camerini, and Robert Rossellini are some of the filmmakers of this movement.

Some films from this movement; Shoeshine, Bicycle Thieves, The Earth Trembles, The Children Are Watching Us

This film movement was pioneered by two Romanian filmmakers Cristi Puiu and Cătălin Mitulescu. This movement is characterized by realist and minimalistic films that were made in Romania. The films tended to explore themes of freedom and resilience with undertones of black humour.

Some films from this movement; 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, Tales from the Golden Age, The Happiest Girl in the World, Beyond the Hills

The British New Wave may have lasted from 1959 to 1963 but it changed the landscape of British cinema and filmmaking. This movement sort to show realistic stories and highlight the lives and struggles of the working class. It had an emphasis on working-class life, this film movement showed the hardships faced by the working class in the United Kingdom. British New Wave is closely associated with “Kitchen Sink Cinema”. Stylistically these films were usually in black and white, shot on location, often imitating cinéma verité and they were shot with real people rather than extras to emphasise realism.

Some films from this movement; Look Back in Anger, A Kind of Loving, The Entertainer, This Sporting Life