Kathryn Bigelow: new action realist

This article argues that Kathryn Bigelow is an auteur of new action realism, a distinct sub-genre within contemporary cinema. Bigelow’s films entail unresolved narratives and aesthetic characterised by claustrophobic immediacy obscuration. Through discussion theory, genre, narrative style in The Hurt Locker Zero Dark Thirty, I argue problematises notions film realism. work brings the viewer into sometimes uncomfortable proximity with violent depicted onscreen, this being key feature presentation explicit sudden, creating discomforting nearness through immediacy. Such imagery, particularly evident echoes footage captured military personnel, news reporters civilians on portable cameras smart phones, recalling reports 9/11 similar crisis. With intimacy immediacy, realism hints at as much it explicitly presents. incomplete visual display imbues her sense confusion hopelessness, presenting world fear paranoia simultaneously familiar unfamiliar, yet obscured its medium.