Final answer:
The auteur theory originated in France, asserting that the film director is the primary creative visionary behind a movie, much like an author of a written work.
Step-by-step explanation:
The auteur theory first emerged in France in the 1950s. It was a concept devised by French film critics and filmmakers associated with the French film magazine Cahiers du Cinéma. The theory posits that the director of a film should be seen as the primary creative force in a motion picture, akin to how an author's vision defines a written work. This was part of a broader movement in the French film industry that supported artistic experimentation and auteurs who imbued films with a personal style and thematic consistency across their filmography.