This volume compiles the film reviews published in Sight and Sound magazine throughout 1997, offering a year-long critical perspective on cinema. It presents a curated collection of critical essays and reviews from a prominent film journal, covering a diverse range of films released or discussed during that year. The content likely includes analyses of cinematic trends, directorial styles, and the cultural impact of films as observed by the magazine's critics.

This compilation serves as a valuable archival resource for film historians and enthusiasts interested in the critical discourse surrounding cinema in 1997. The collection offers insight into the reception and analysis of films by a respected publication during a specific historical period. It provides a snapshot of critical thought and the films that shaped the cinematic landscape of that year.