Movies have become essential to our experience as modern citizens of a global culture. In this class we try to unpack film’s formal structure and tackle its social, cultural, economic, political and historical contexts. So, this course aims at making students understand and appreciate film form, style, and structure; and to introduce important films, filmmakers, and filmmaking traditions covering a range of historical periods, genres, and national cinemas. Through a unique combination of pedagogical features and a focus on essential topics, the course helps students develop the skills and vocabulary of film analysis. The first six units introduce students to the medium’s essential or constituent formal and stylistic elements such as mise-en-scene, camerawork, narrative, editing and soundtrack. Unit seven introduces alternative forms and styles of filmmaking with a focus on documentary and experimental films. Units eight to 12 introduces the major film movements and schools that have shaped film history. The last unit focuses on writing about films.