Wandering Through Frames

In the ever-evolving landscape of urban modernity, the figure of the flâneur has remained an enduring and enigmatic presence-a wanderer who roams the city, observing, consuming, and reimagining the urban spectacle. Originating in the 19th-century writings of Charles Baudelaire and later shaped by Walter Benjamin's reflections on modernity, the flâneur has been an essential figure in understanding the relationship between the individual and the city. But how does this concept transform when it steps onto the cinematic stage?
The Cinematic Flâneur: Wandering Visions in the Films of Wong Kar-Wai, Ismael Ferroukhi, and Paolo Sorrentino delves into the evolution of the flâneur beyond literature and into the visual realm of cinema. This book unpacks the ways in which cinema has reinterpreted, adapted, and even reshaped the figure of the flâneur, both reflecting and challenging traditional ideas of urban alienation and spectatorship. Through a deep analysis of three films-Chungking Express (1994), The Great Journey (2004), and The Great Beauty (2013)-the book examines how different directors from distinct cinematic traditions use the city as a dynamic stage for their wandering protagonists.
Drawing from the theories of Baudelaire and Benjamin, alongside cinematic scholars such as Anne Friedberg and Giuliana Bruno, this study explores the intersection of movement, space, and spectatorship in film. It dissects the transformation of the flâneur within global cinema, showing how directors from Asia, Africa, and Europe redefine urban wandering through their own cultural and cinematic lenses.
With an analytical-interpretive approach rooted in urban sociology and film studies, this book offers fresh insights into the cinematic representation of the flâneur, shedding light on how non-European directors have contributed to the evolution of this concept in global cinema. Whether you are a scholar, a film enthusiast, or someone fascinated by the interplay of city life and artistic expression, The Cinematic Flâneur invites you to embark on a journey through filmic streets, where every corner holds a new story waiting to be observed.