David Bordwell is an American film theorist and film historian known for his extensive analysis of cinema and influential contributions to the academic study of film. Born on July 23, 1947, he is Emeritus Professor of Film Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Bordwell's work is characterized by a strong focus on film narrative, style, and the history of filmmaking. He has written numerous books on a variety of topics within film studies, including classical Hollywood cinema, art films, and national cinemas. Together with Kristin Thompson, also a prominent film scholar and his wife, Bordwell has co-authored "Film Art: An Introduction," a widely used textbook in film studies courses. His research is notable for applying rigorous formal and cognitive approaches to understanding film structure and viewer response.