The figure of the director has long loomed large in film history: are directors inspired creators or manipulative puppet masters? The lecture will examine the multiple decisions directors make while also considering how their work has been conceptualized by such critical approaches as the “auteur theory,” which privileges a director’s “world view.” And, of course, parts of the moviegoing public are drawn to certain directors for their distinctive style or their associations with key genres. The Coen Brothers will serve as a revealing case study, demonstrating the ongoing appeal exerted by directors.