Introduction: European Film Consumption, Representation, and Identity

EU policymakers have repeatedly asserted that increased exposure to non-national European (NNE) films (e.g. a French film released in Germany) improves people’s understanding of other European countries and strengthens their sense of European identity. This book assesses the validity of such claims. In this introductory chapter, I review the existing research on NNE films, including their consumption patterns, representational themes, and potential contribution to European identity. I then outline the methodology I use to answer the following research questions: How often do audiences watch NNE films? Which films do they see in particular? How do NNE films represent other Europeans? Who do they appeal to? Why are audiences attracted to these films? And how do NNE films affect people’s understandings of other Europeans and their sense of European identity? These methods include film databases, audience surveys, and focus groups. I end by outlining the rest of the book and my central argument. This posits that exposure to NNE films can slightly strengthen people’s sense of European identity. But this process is constrained by the fragmentation of the European film industry and audience preferences for films that offer limited cultural diversity or insights into the realities of life in Europe.