1945 to 1951 was a neglected period in the study of European film. Ulrike Sieglohr rectifies this era's absence in cinematic history and explores the roles gender played during the national identity struggles of the time. Sieglohr compares and contrasts the postwar cinemas of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain in order to examine how representations of women in this period emerged from specific national contexts. She further analyzes the appeal of particular stars and the political and social conditions that contributed to their popularity.