The Promise of Auteur Theory

The critical thought behind Auteur Theory led to real changes in regional cinemas, even if for short periods. The French Cahiers critics used their critical work to launch their own filmmaking careers. However, that impact was short lived.

Because, like many critical studies, the politique des auteurs ignored the contexts that helped shape it, once social and economic conditions changed, the framework as practiced by the New Wave filmmakers was too rigid to adapt and survive.
It should be reinforced that very real conditions were responsible for the formation of the framework: production became cheaper, smaller budget films had some financial success in distribution, an influx of products from the Hollywood studio system, the marginalized voice of a political movement. These conditions allowed the New Wave filmmakers to make new and personal films with a new message, using a new cinematic language. This is a fine development, but as conditions changed, the theory did not change with it. New Wave filmmakers stuck with a framework that was tied to no longer existing contexts, and eventually the movement was choked out.

Modern critical studies, especially those practiced by filmmakers, should learn from this lesson. Recognize your context, develop a framework that tackles your current conditions, but be willing to tweak or even reinvent your framework at anytime, even your height, if the conditions dictate it.