Nana

The 1934 film Nana, directed by Dorothy Arzner, is an adaptation of Émile Zola's 1880 novel of the same name. The novel, part of Zola's Rougon-Macquart cycle, tells the story of Nana, a woman who rises from poverty to become a successful courtesan despite her lack of talent as an actress. She possesses a destructive sexuality that ruins many wealthy and powerful men who fall for her, leading some to financial ruin and even suicide. While the film is considered well-constructed, it is noted for a weak performance by its lead, Anna Sten. Dorothy Arzner was a pioneering filmmaker, being the only woman directing feature-length studio films in Hollywood during the 1930s.12