cinéma vérité

American  

[sin-uh-muh ver-i-tey, see-ney-mah vey-ree-tey] / ˈsɪn ə mə ˌvɛr ɪˈteɪ, si neɪ mɑ veɪ riˈteɪ /

noun

1. a technique of documentary filmmaking in which the camera records actual persons and events without directorial control: introduced in France in the 1950s.

2. a film using this technique or a simulation of it.

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cinéma vérité British  

/ sinema verite /

noun

1. films characterized by subjects, actions, etc, that have the appearance of real life

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Etymology

Origin of cinéma vérité

1960–65; < French cinéma-vérité literally, cinema-truth, coined as a translation of Russian kinoprávda, a documentary technique developed by the Soviet filmmaker Dziga Vertov (1896–1954)

Example Sentences

Pennebaker’s cinéma vérité record of Dylan’s 1965 tour of England, as he transitions from Great Folk Hope to Arty Enfant Terrible.

From Los Angeles Times

Watts: Particularly, the cinema verité episode, where it’s all about the black and white ball.

From Los Angeles Times

“Bert was tired of cultural revolutionaries,” says Newton, “and when he saw me, he saw cinéma vérité.”

From Los Angeles Times

Part photojournalism, part nature doc, part cinéma vérité, part Western, the film defies categorization.

From New York Times

The comedy star, who has sparingly sung onscreen, debuted her version of “Poor Unfortunate Souls” at CinemaCon in Las Vegas last month, where the two-time Oscar nominee was awarded the convention’s Cinema Véritê Award.

From Los Angeles Times