CultureJuly 18, 2026
auteur
/oʊˈtɜːr/
Definition
A film director whose unique personal style, artistic vision, and creative control are so distinctive that they are considered the primary author of the work.
Etymology
Derived from the French word for 'author,' the term was popularized in the 1950s by French film critics who argued that certain directors imprint their personal style on their films as a novelist does on a book.
In the news
The article uses the term to describe Russian film director Victor Kossakovsky, highlighting his individual creative influence and control over his documentary project. This identifies him as a filmmaker with a signature artistic identity.
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Read the full article ↗Monocle