The book is nice in giving essays on different national cinemas throughout the world. There are 12 chapters that do this. You should understand that this is insufficient for anything approaching a comprehensive view of world cinema. But the chapters do offer insight.India is important enough that two chapters are devoted to its scene. In one, there is a summary of typical themes in Hindi movies. Compare these to Hollywood fare. Of course, a lot would be incomprehensible to an American viewer. Where a movie might delve into the complexities of Indian society and the nuances of caste and religion.Another chapter looks across many Third World nations, and discusses how film was seen by governments as essential in forging a national identity and cultural autonomy. Giving rise to the so-called Third Cinema, a term favoured by some critics.