<DIV><DIV>A pioneer in the field, Christian Metz applies insights of structural linguistics to the language of film.<BR><BR>"The semiology of film . . . can be held to date from the publication in 1964 of the famous essay by Christian Metz, 'Le cinéma: langue ou langage?'"&#8212;Geoffrey Nowell-Smith, <i>Times Literary Supplement</i><BR><BR>"Modern film theory begins with Metz."&#8212;Constance Penley, coeditor of <i>Camera Obscura</i><BR><BR>"Any consideration of semiology in relation to the particular field signifying practice of film passes inevitably through a reference to the work of Christian Metz. . . . The first book to be written in this field, [<i>Film Language</i>] is important not merely because of this primacy but also because of the issues it raises . . . issues that have become crucial to the contemporary argument."&#8212;Stephen Heath, <i>Screen</i></DIV>