Film Hieroglyphs

Exploring the intersections of writing and cinema, the book delves into the tensions between story, image, and text in film. Tom Conley analyzes how renowned directors like Renoir and Rossellini blend history and ideology, revealing the complexities of graphic elements that challenge traditional visual theory. He identifies "hieroglyphs" that signify deeper meanings and rhetorical structures within film, suggesting that these contradictions reveal a hidden language that shapes cinematic expression. Conley, a Harvard professor, brings a rich academic background to this innovative analysis.