An analysis of what contemporary directors seek to attain by putting their spectators in a position of strong discomfort. In recent years some of the best-known European and American art film directors have made films that place the spectator in a position of intense discomfort: Feel-Bad Films . Through analysis of films by directors such as Lars von Trier, Gus Van Sant and Claire Denis, amongst others, this book explores why we are attracted to these unpleasurable viewing experiences, what directors believe they can achieve via the feel-bad experience and how we can situate the films in intellectual history. Key Features: Detailed analyses of the work of some of the best-known contemporary art film directors * stimulating contribution to current debates about the ethics and politics of cinematic spectatorship * The conceptualization of a cinematic genre that will allow us to reconsider debates about the social potential of film