Susan Sontag

“There are films that I have seen fifteen, twenty times, and I hope to continue watching them for the rest of my life. Cinema, for me, is not linked to nostalgia. It's part of my present.” Susan Sontag was an influential American writer, cultural critic, essayist, and film director. Although her film career is not as extensive as her literary work, it is equally significant for its meticulous approach and choice of profound subject matter. In her films, Sontag acutely explored the human, political and cultural complexities that also characterize her written work. She was screenwriter and director of the films Duet for Cannibals (1969) and Brother Carl (1971), both made in Sweden. She also directed Promised Land (1974) and her last audiovisual experience was Letter from Venice (1983), based on a short story she wrote. One of her most influential works was On Photography (1977), a book in which she examines the place of photography in modern society, revealing the distances that arise between the image and the real event. Sontag also taught and directed plays. Widely recognized for her political activism, especially in human rights and freedom of expression, Sontag is a leading figure in 20th century intellectual life, whose influence endures to this day.