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About Roger Vadim

Roger Vadim (1928–2000) was a French director, screenwriter, and cultural provocateur whose debut film And God Created Woman became one of the most controversial and influential works of the 1950s. Closely associated with the rise of modern popular culture, Vadim challenged cinematic conventions and helped redefine stardom in postwar Europe.

Though not formally part of the French New Wave, Vadim is often cited as one of its precursors. His films favored contemporary settings, natural performances, and an open approach to desire, blending provocation with popular appeal and capturing the spirit of a generation eager for change. .


About Ericka Knudson

Ericka Knudson holds a Ph.D. in Film Studies from Université Paris Ouest Nanterre, specializing in French New Wave cinema. She is a Visiting Lecturer in the World Languages and Cultures Department at Northeastern University and has taught at Harvard University, Stanford Continuing Studies, and Université Paris Descartes. She has published extensively on French cinema, co-authored a book on world film and a documentary on the French New Wave. Her recent book, Nouvelle Femmes, examines modern women of the French New Wave and their enduring impact on cinema.



About Nouvelles Femmes

In Nouvelle Femmes Ericka Knudson examines the actresses and filmmakers who played a central role in one of the most innovative periods in film history. Moving beyond the myth of the male auteur, the book highlights how women of the French New Wave shaped modern cinema through performance, authorship, style, and cultural influence.

Through film analysis, archival material, and the women’s own words, Nouvelle Femmes offers a renewed perspective on figures such as Anna Karina, Jeanne Moreau, Jean Seberg, Brigitte Bardot, and Agnès Varda. Thoughtfully researched and accessible, the book underscores their lasting impact on cinematic language and representations of women on screen.


 

Upcoming Events

Social & Community

June Alors... Conversation Club

In-person, Indoor Event in French

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

Seeking opportunities to speak French? Join us for our popular members-only conversation gathering.

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Performing Arts & Screenings

Theater Club in June

In-person, Indoor Event in French

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Come join us for the new Theater Club at the French Library, a place to read, watch, discuss and recite contemporary and classic French plays with fellow enthusiasts.

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Thursday, June 18, 2026

As Paris stands on the brink of destruction in August 1944, a single overnight conversation between a German general and a Swedish diplomat may determine the fate of the city.

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