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Our latest look at new and recent books about (or connected to) cinema must start with a mention of Miss May Does Not Exist: The Life and Work of Elaine May, Hollywood’s Hidden Genius by Carrie Courogen (St. Martin’s Press). Check out my interview with Courogen here, and make sure to pick up the book, which is surely one of this year’s most important.

Read on for new releases chronicling the careers of Michael Mann and Albert Brooks, a unique photographic study of the Barbie press tour, and, to start, two lovingly crafted books from A24. And watch for another column later this summer featuring more books of note for film fans.

New from A24: How Directors Dress: On Set, in the Edit, and Down the Red Carpet and Pi: The Guerilla Diaries by Darren Aronofsky

Explore an exclusive look at How Directors Dress above.

A24 is...

Unspooling from 28 June-7 July, the 47th edition will pay tribute to Dario Argento, Caroline Champetier, Jessica Hausner, Jean-François Laguionie and Elia Suleiman, among others. Today marks the opening of the 47th La Rochelle International Film Festival, a popular non-competitive film gathering offering a high-quality yet very eclectic menu. Running until 7 July, the event (the patron of which this year is Canadian actress Alexandra Stewart) will present around 200 movies, including the opening film, the Cannes-awarded It Must Be Heaven by Elia Suleiman. The festival will pay tribute not only to the Palestinian filmmaker (with a screening of all four of his features to date), but also to cult Italian helmer Dario Argento (with nine of his movies and the documentary Dario Argento: Soupirs dans un corridor lointain by Jean-Baptiste Thoret), French DoP Caroline Champetier (seven films), Austrian filmmaker Jessica Hausner (all five...

Jean-Baptiste Thoret's enthralling documentary We Blew It tackles the riddle of the 1960s head-on — a riddle that has been the subject of lively debate virtually since the day the decade ended. How, after that heady upsurge of youthful idealism and revolt, did we get to where we are now? What happened to the dreams and visions of the peace-and-love generation? What were the twists and turns that brought us from Easy Rider to Donald Trump?

Shot during the height of last year's presidential campaign, but before the result was known, the movie presents a kaleidoscope...

Two Charlie Hebdo cartoonists received a standing ovation at the Pen Literary Gala in New York City Tuesday night after six high-profile writers didn’t show to the event in protest of what they perceive as the French satirical magazine’s racism and Islamophobia. “Being shocked is part of democratic debate,” the New York Times reports Gérard Biard, alongside Jean-Baptiste Thoret, said while accepting the “freedom of expression courage” award. “Being shot is not.” Biard said the magazine has the right to mock all religions. He concluded by criticizing the Muslim terrorists who attacked Charlie Hebdo on Jan. 7, and killed 12 employees.

Appearing on the Charlie Rose program Monday, two Charlie Hebdo cartoonists said there are no parallels to be drawn between the Muhammad cartoon contest held by a controversial group in Texas on Sunday and the French satirical magazine. “To be honest, I can imagine the kind of comparison you can make between the Charlie Hebdo attack of January 7 and this event, but there is nothing to do ,” Jean-Baptiste Thoret said. “Absolutely no comparison.” Thoret said the group that staged the event — the American Freedom Defense Initiative — is an anti-Islamic group, whereas Charlie Hebdo criticizes all religions, not limiting its...