Man has always enjoyed feasting on images ; he has been defined as « the animal who goes to the cinema ». As such, he cannot help contemplating cinema as food for thought. This book attempts to answer two questions : « What did people expect of the cinema ? (i.e., what expectations were expressed by each successive generation) and « What has it accomplished and what may it still accomplish ? » In short, what conclusions can we now draw from it and what future lies in store for this medium which — compared to other « modern » art forms — is very special, indeed ?
In this work, the authors strive to open reader's minds to the thought process behind film-makling, discuss its subtle appeal and identify what causes it to occasionally leave something to be desired. Ultimately, they may also be attempting to reveal « the secret behind some high-profile affair » that might explain why people have so much enjoyed going to the cinema for the last one hundred years.

Jean-Louis Leutrat is a professor at Paris III-Sorbonne Nouvelle. His published works include books on « westerns » and film reviews. He has also just finished writing a Saint-Simon anthology.