Ciné Club Series: And God Created Woman by Roger Vadim

Set in a sun-drenched, still-sleepy Saint-Tropez, the film follows Juliette, an eighteen-year-old free spirit whose sensuality and independence disrupt the lives around her. Moving instinctively through love, marriage, and desire, she challenges social expectations and provokes scandal.

Upon its release, And God Created Woman shocked audiences and censors alike with its frank depiction of female sexuality. Yet beyond the controversy, the film stands as a turning point in postwar cinema: a portrait of feminine freedom that challenged traditional morality and announced the arrival of a new cultural icon.

Often remembered as the film that “created” Bardot, And God Created Woman also raises enduring questions about desire, power, authorship, and the male gaze—questions that would resonate throughout the French New Wave and beyond.

The screening will be followed by a discussion with Ericka Knudson, author of Nouvelles Femmes: Modern Women of the French New Wave and Their Enduring Contribution to Cinema, who will place the film in its historical, cultural, and cinematic context and explore Bardot’s lasting legacy.

A book signing with Ericka Knudson will follow the Q&A.

Watch the trailer

The evening will conclude with a wine reception, offering a chance for discussion and reflection among fellow cinephiles.

Movie in French with English subtitles.

The Q&A that will follow the screening will be in English.

https://frenchlibrary.org/events/god-created-woman/