The Female Auteur

The woman I chose to use as an example of a Female Auteur is the filmmaker and screenwriter Jane Campion. A native of New Zealand, Campion decided to study Film in Sydney, Australia at the Australian Film, Television, and Radio School. Also considered Australia's leading Auteur director, Campion holds achievements of the Palme d'Or, the Silver Lion, and the Academy award. One of her most notable Films was The Piano(1993) which received nine academy award nominations(tribute)

In terms of defining Campion as an Auteur, her Film the Piano is a great example. The film's plot which is about "A mute woman along with her young daughter, and her prized piano, are sent to 1850s New Zealand for an arranged marriage to a wealthy landowner, and she's soon lusted after by a local worker on the plantation"(IMDB). The Film in which most of the production staff are both from cultures that she strongly associates with. According to Fincina Hopgood, "developed with Australian government funding through the Australian Film Commission – was set in New Zealand; the director was New Zealand-born but Australian-trained; it was produced by an Australian (Jan Chapman); the stars were two Americans (Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel) and one New Zealander (Anna Paquin); and it was filmed on location using a New Zealand crew and local extras". (Senses of Cinema) This has added to the debate of whether Campion considered herself An Australian or New Zealand Director. (Cinema Nation Identity)

Works Cited

"Cinema Nation Identity: Jane Campion. Department of Communication Studies, University of Otago, New Zealand." University of Otago, Celebrating 142 Years as New Zealand's First University. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. .

Issue, Latest. "Jane Campion." Senses of Cinema. Senses Of Cinema. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. .

"The Piano (1993) - IMDb." The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). International Movie Database. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. .

Tribute. "Jane Campion Biography and Filmography." Tribute.ca - Movie Times and Showtimes | Movie Trailers | Theatres. Tribute. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. .