This concise introduction to the study of film offers an overview of the issues and perspectives that contribute to a full understanding of the medium. The book addresses all the important areas encountered by students studying film for the first time, ranging from a history of Hollywood and British Cinema to an analysis of the key theories of different genres and narratives. It draws on a fund of diverse examples, handled as extended case studies or briefer vignettes, that offer a sensitive mix of the familiar, classic and more unusual aspects of films. With its original narrative line and student-centred philosophy, this book makes for an essential and engaging read for all film enthusiasts approaching the subject for the first time.