Charlie Chaplin, Orson Welles, Luis Buñuel, Robert Bresson, Ingmar Bergman, Alain Rene, Federico Fellini - these are the names of the largest modern Western filmmakers to whom the book is dedicated. The book consists of separate essays - essays. They analyze the individual artistic originality of each of the directors, the complexity and inconsistency of their work related to the socio-historical situation, reveal the strengths and weaknesses of their works. The work of Antonioni, Pasolini, Godard is also considered.