Auteurjaartal

Auteurjaartal is a term used in Dutch-language cinema studies to denote a year in an auteur’s career that is treated as a defining point in the development of their signature style. The concept combines ideas from auteur theory with cataloging practices, emphasizing turning points over simple release dates.

Etymology and scope: jaartal means year, and auteur refers to a filmmaker whose personal vision shapes their work. An auteurjaartal is not a fixed universal date; it is a interpretive marker that may vary depending on critical framework, documentary evidence, and scholarly debate. A director can be associated with one or several auteurjaartallen corresponding to different phases of their career.

Usage and application: In scholarly writing, film databases, and encyclopedic catalogs, the term is used to organize a director’s filmography by era. Researchers may designate a debut-year, a breakout year, or a transitional year when recurring stylistic or thematic concerns first become evident. This helps compare periods across directors and track the evolution of style, technique, and subject matter.

Limitations and critique: The choice of an auteurjaartal is inherently interpretive and could reflect particular critical agendas. Relying on a single or a few years risks oversimplifying a career that may continue to develop and fluctuate over time. Critics caution that the concept should be used as a flexible analytic tool rather than a rigid taxonomy.

See also: Auteur theory, filmography, film indexing.