This is the first English-language book on controversial female director Catherine Breillat, whose films include Romance, A ma soeur! (Fat Girl), Anatomy of Hell and most recently, The Last Mistress.
This volume explores the director's complex relation to religion and to feminism, and it examines the differences between Breillat's films and patriarchal pornography, engaging in detailed analysis of her intimate scenes between men and women. Keesey also discusses the literature, films, paintings and photos that have influenced Breillat's work, and extends this to show how Breillat's films have influenced other filmmakers and artists in turn.
A lively and accessible introduction, this book will appeal to students and researchers, as well as all those with an interest in gender studies, French film and contemporary cinema.

Douglas Keesey is Professor of Film and Literature at California Polytechnic State University

List of plates
Series editors' foreword
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1. Female virgins and the shaming gaze
2. Sisters as one soul in two bodies
3. Masculine tendencies and macho violence
4. Staging masochism, facing shame
Conclusion
Filmography
Select bibliography
Index