"Richter's thought-provoking book offers lively analyses of the films. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students, researchers." - CHOICE "Richter offers an original approach to thematic film criticism. The range of films chosen for the discussion is impressive and the interconnections and associations offered go beyond any expected comparative reading to uncover astonishing relationships. Rather than looking at individual films, he segments the book into individual themes, motifs, and gestures and then traces the development of these through a set of films that have picked up and developed the Lola story. This tracking of themes/gestures means moving beyond a plot-driven discussion to looking at a cultural transmission and transformation in an innovative and inspiring manner." - Elisabeth Bronfen, University of Zurich, Switzerland and author of Over Her Dead Body: Death, Femininity and the Aesthetic and Specters of War: Hollywood's Engagement with Military Conflict "In this brilliant study of the 'Lola film,' Simon Richter explores more than thirty films that fashion and sustain a fantasy that acknowledges women's legitimate claims to sexual pleasure and autonomy. With eloquent clarity and undeniable passion for his subject, Richter sweeps aside sterile academic debates to show how the Lola figure transcends national traditions - there are Lola films in German, US, Chinese, Mexican, Argentinean, and Egyptian cinema - as well as sexual and gendered binaries" - Patrice Petro, former President, Society for Cinema and Media Studies, author of Aftershocks of the New: Feminism and Film History "With insight and panache, Richter reveals 'Lola' as a transgressive force for female desire in cinema. His thoroughly enjoyable book defines a refreshing new genre - a provocative lens for 'Lolas' to come." - Ellen Seidler and Megan Siler, Co-directors of And Then Came Lola "Richter's original approach to a character brings together familiar and less familiar texts. Situating them in this new paradigm allows him to forge innovative connections. Slightly irreverent, but thoroughly researched and with much attention to subtlety, Richter offers a tour-de-force through the different incarnations of the cinematic Lola ... Richter's thorough training in German literature, ability for comprehensive research, gift of creative thinking, and love of Lola make Women, Pleasure, Film an original and provocative contribution to feminist film theory and German Studies." - German Studies Review
