How to Read a Film
Oct 27, 2026, 6:30 PM ET<a href="https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/how-to-read-film?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/how-to-read-film?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223">smithsonianassociates.org…</a>
Humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson reminds viewers that films are built from thousands of creative choices, and understanding them means examining elements like pace, music, lighting, direction, acting styles, and editing. Learning to isolate these components deepens appreciation without diminishing enjoyment. Jenkinson illustrates his approach through two films from Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer and The Odyssey, and Philip Kaufman's The Right Stuff .