The term “independent film” is a chameleon, with a shifting meaning to suit different purposes. It can represent moviemaking within the constraints of a small budget; a more artistic cinematic style; a distinctly counter-culture political message; or simply films produced by non-commercial or non- Hollywood entities. Ultimately, we will consider “independent film” synonymous with alternative cinema – one that responds to and deviates from mainstream Hollywood films.
In this course, we will examine American independent films from the 1980s and 1990s that, with modest budgets and often new directors, have garnered critical and/or commercial success and have articulated or initiated transformations in recent cinema history. Through either their unconventional approach to narrative, subject matter, cinematography, or even marketing and distribution methods, each of these films represents a cinematic shift initiated in the margins.