FRENCH CINEMA AND IMMIGRATION. SCHOOL CASE AND ISLAM

The study focuses on the transformation of French cinema under the influence of processes that inevitably change modern culture. Today visual culture is rethinking the established boundaries of national cultures, and the natural concerns which arise in that regard. The migration processes, class inequality and religious pluralism are increasingly reflected in contemporary films. Such films highlight the phenomena related not only to political and social occurrences but also to cultural issues. The most pronounced changes occur in mainstream cinema, which attracts a broad audience. Thus, films created by French filmmakers, in particular, of the “Culture Clash Comedy” style, aim to appeal to audiences from different religious backgrounds and/or often serve an educational purpose, what leads to a gradual change in the visual habits of the audience. Schools play a crucial role in mediating new social norms and cultural patterns of behavior, and the films centered around educational themes convey the idea of nation-building based on the “republican model”. As a result, the theme of schools attracts attention of directors, followed by film researchers. The article provides a detailed analysis of the correlation between immigration processes, the influence of Islam, and the French educational system on the visual narrative of French cinema.