Fascination: The Celluloid Dreams Of Jean Rollin

I would recommend this as an excellent introduction and overview to someone new to Jean Rollin and his works.Visually, I wasn't as impressed; the book is very small and the pictures are pretty dreadful (the photos appear to be screenshots from a computer monitor). So much of the appeal of Jean's work is found in the compelling visuals seen in his films (as well as the beautiful women!) that this seems as a lost opportunity to me. Still a great book, but definitive it is not

Great book very insightful although it is kind of small in size it's still very much worth it because they're not asking for a ton of money I paid $18.37 I think. So what can you expect definitely worth the money. I'll buy books all day long for people I love for $18.37.

Nice look at the late director

I've got to be honest when it comes to Jean Rollin and Eurohorror in general. It's a blind spot for me. Sure, I've seen tons of Italian horror flicks and love 'em, but as far as gothic/creepy castle type Eurohorror it's not a big draw for me. I've only seen The Grapes of Death and Zombie Lake by Rollin and according to this book, neither are good representations of the body of work Rollin was known for. I'm not alone in this. Author David Hinds concedes that for most horror fans, Jean Rollin's work goes unseen. Rollin is often compared to or confused with Spanish director Jess Franco, despite the fact that Rollin is French. I know I've made the same mistake myself. Fascination: The Celluloid Dreams of Jean Rollin sets the record straight on the director and schools ignorant film fans (read: me).Writer David Hinds makes no bones about it: he loves Jean Rollin's films. His writing on the subject in the first few pages practically gushes his love all over the paper (which could be why the book has an odd but pleasant sweet aroma). From there he spends time writing about his life, his upbringing and how get got into film, as well as his aesthetic and influences for about 60 pages or so. We are then treated to lengthy reviews on each and every one of his films, including his hardcore films, short films, and unfinished works. The reviews not only comment on the style and success (or lack thereof) of the film from an artistic point of view but also goes into the history of how the film was made and background cultural information that may have had an influence. To put it simply, each review is very thorough. The book finishes off with a full interview with Rollin, who has since passed away. The reviews themselves are annotated with footnotes from other interviews with Rollin. The guy did his homework for sure. The book is printed in black and white and features numerous stills from Rollin's films throughout.For Jean Rollin fans this is a must buy. If you like the films, you should own this book. It's informative and written by a person with obvious passion for the films. I will say that he isn't slavish in his love however. He's willing to admit when a film was a failure so the book is pretty balanced as well. I doubt anyone will ever write a more thorough and definitive book on Rollin, especially since he has now passed on. For those uninitiated in the cult of Rollin but are curious, it's a good buy as well. I like to be informed on the films I watch before, during or right after watching them and this book gives the goods.

I became a fan of Jean Rollin's films several years ago and have reviewed a number of them on Amazon. His films are strange and esoteric works that combine fantastic locations, horror and sexuality. He can show vampires and zombies in an oddly sympathetic light. When I learned that there was a new book about Rollin and his career, I placed an order. David Hinds provides a fine overview of Rollin and his movies. There is a biographical sketch, but most of the book focuses on the films. Hinds notes that Rollin was often forced to work with limited budgets and had to be a master of improvisation. "Rollin's method, and his films, should serve as a vital and encouraging reference for independent filmmakers, as an example of what can be achieved with very little money." While Hinds is an admirer, he is not afraid to criticize weak efforts. He gives great synopses of Rollin's major films and has a chapter on Rollin's work in hardcore pornography, which he undertook mostly for financial reasons. There is also an interview he had with Rollin, done a few years before the filmmaker's death. If you are a fan of Jean Rollin, this is definitely a book you'll want to read. I'd also recommend it to people curious about Rollin as Hinds explains the director's themes and motivations.

A very thorough and informed book on Jean Rollin. To be fair, substantial work on Rollin is few and far between so this really does fill a much needed gap in the marker. Given the sumptuousness of Rollin's work it's a pity that the book itself couldn't exploit this with lots of lush prints, but that's a minor quibble - if you're well into Euro-horror, or just starting out on a voyage of discovery, this book is a great addition. It doesn't shy away from Rollin's lesser works either. Recommended.