Sacred Cinema: Recent Episodes
2XXFM - Sacred Cinema
Hosted by Jimmy Bernasconi, Sacred Cinema explores the rich history of cinema and asks what the stories of the silver screen can teach us about ourselves, other people and the surrounding world.
Should accessing a more confident version of ourself be conceived as a transformation? Is the identify and existence of our alter egos determined by our surroundings? Do we have access to a catalogue of distinct identities or a single self that evolves over time? With the release of Richard Linklater's new film 'Hit Man', this week's episode examines films in which a meek and mild protagonist undergoes some form of transition to embody a more cool and suave alter ego.
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Is there virtue in taking the blame for something that isn't your totally fault? How easily can this slip into exploitation? Should we ever take on more burdens in an already unfair world? With the fairly release of 'The Fall Guy' this week's episode focuses on films in which a character takes the blame for something they didn't do, whether voluntarily or involuntarily.
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What effect does vengeance have on feminine purity? Are avengers ever assaultive themselves? Is revenge the only response to injustice? With the release of 'Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga', this week's episode examines three films in which feminine characters are avenged.
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What should we be cautious of when it comes to clingyness? Are there ever broader sociocultural elements at play when someone gets clingy? Is there ever a lot at stake when someone gets clingy? As the television program 'Baby Reindeer' continues to permeate the culture, this week's episode looks at three films depicting 'clingyness'.
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In what ways is privacy appealing? At what point does coolness verge into eccentricity? How is the avoidance of philosophical dogma paradoxical? In this week's episode we contemplate the extent to which privacy, as a symbol of pure independence, can assist in our search for truth.
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Can cheating be romantic? Is the fate of cheaters determined by justice or luck? Does cheating reveal anything useful about those it victimises? Building on previous episodes on infidelity, this week's episode looks at the borders, divides and connections that are illuminated in films about disloyal lovers.
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Is voyeurism of the violent a sickness? How might modern society encourage psychotic behaviour? What role might emotion play in the face of conflict? Following some related conversations in recent weeks, this week's episode focuses on three depictions of capturing violence on camera.
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Can the thirst for the alternative devolve into chaos? Do we ever search too far inward for bohemian values? Is there an ideal time to depart from the unconventional? Building on a brief discussion from last week, this week's episode examines the curious reoccurrence of bohemian culture being explored on screen through 'triangular' character dynamics.
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What is the fate of a once great empire after it has comprehensively fallen? How do we find our bearings in places filled with all walks of life? From where is modern political power sourced? In focusing on films set in Rome, this week's episode considers the history of Western civilisation and contemplates whether it is underpinned by any timeless values.
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What happens in the aftermath of our misdeeds? Do we ever have a right to revenge? How can the interconnectedness of the powerless form the roots of revolution? Focusing on street-level vigilantes, this week's episode examines how the revenge tragedy has evolved in recent decades.
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What might a lack of closure make us do to ourselves? What might a lack of closure make us do to others? What are the dangers of a society floundering in an odyssey of aimlessness? Extending beyond a similar recent conversation about cinematic depictions of kidnappers, this week's episode focuses on the symbolism of missing people.
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How do humans differ from machines? Can love emerge out of banality? Can a standard-issue humanoid assert individuality? Focusing on three cinematic instances in which a protagonist is romantically involved with a robot, this week's episode contemplates the impact of love in the changing technological landscape.
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How can we overcome a fear of the wilderness? How clearly can we understand the 'other'? How clearly do we understand reality? Focusing on three films that depict forest-dwelling monsters (of various kinds), this week's episode explores the fate of humanity in a mysterious and opaque world.
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Do we ever lose hope in getting back those we have lost? How easily can our attention be kidnapped from us? Can the false imprisonment of a person have a net benefit for society at large? In exploring the metaphorical nature of kidnapping, this week's episode examines cinema's changing attitude toward the over-use of power.
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Are human beings capable of biblical-level leadership? Is our thirst for compassionate global influence inevitable? What are some of the contemporary constraints on leadership? Focusing on films depicting desert warfare, this week's episode examines the concept of leadership against a backdrop of scarcity and volatility.
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Is the fate of the impoverished fixed? Does anyone have it all? How can we find the infinite in the finite? In focusing on three distinct cinematic depictions of scarcity, this week's episode seeks to identify the circumstances in which we might feel content with just enough.
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In what ways can we be nourished by the foreign? Can encountering high culture ever reveal our brutish side? How delicate is the balance between admiring and owning? In exploring three cinematic depictions of food, this week's episode contemplates the ways in which people give themselves to and take a piece of others.
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How successful are elevated individuals at imposing their own will on the masses? How can the powerful control others through seemingly benevolent means? Can we ever transform relationships based on dominance into relationships based on fraternity? This week's episode explores the symbolism of suffocation, contemplating whether authority figures can simultaneously suffocate and be suffocated.
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How do we view manufactured and real heroes differently? In what sense is the creation of an ideal self destructive? Do we ever overlook past facts in creating modern fictions? Building off past discussions about projected versions of the self, this week's episode attempts to explore the human act of creating fictional characters.
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How vulnerable are we to becoming entranced by the mundane? How sensitive are we to injustice in our ordinary lives? What does the permitting of evil look like in the everyday? This week's episode contrasts three cinematic depictions of immorality being woven through seemingly boring and banal circumstances.
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Can we be free without the presence of external control? Is there more than one set of rules under which we can play? Can imprisonment ever be the means through which we liberate ourselves? Focusing on three cinematic mentor-mentee relationships, this week's episode contemplates whether the pursuit of freedom demands some degree of oppressive control.
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What does motherhood feel like on both the personal and global level? How should we view the power to give life? Is our mother a fixed thing? Focusing on three new releases, this week's episode contemplates the various ways in which the maternal is currently being depicted in contemporary cinema.
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Is it difficult to choose a life path? Is it harder to live out the life we choose? Why should we endure through relatively insignificant acts of sacrifice? Focusing on three films about WWII, this week's episode contemplates the ways in which the threat of conflict affects our sense of mortality.
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How are the horrors of reality communicated to the vulnerable? How do we escape from the aspects of ourselves that we want to ignore? Is anyone actually stopping the problems the rest of us cannot bare to confront? This week's episode examines how and why we often soften the darker aspects of existence for both the sake of others and ourselves.
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In the final episode of Sacred Cinema for 2023 we're taking a look at your favourite films of the year and what they can tell us about human history's most recent chapter.
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How can we affect the world from home? Is the home easy to defend? How is the home like a battleground? Christmas has come early, as we release this year's Christmas-themed episode a few sleeps before Tim Allen's arrival!
Also, be sure to let us know your favourite films of 2023! Either access the link below (if listening on Spotify) or email us at contact@jimmybernasconi.com
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Please let us know what your favourite film of the year was via either:
-the poll below (if listening on Spotify)
-emailing us at contact@jimmybernasconi.com
Many thanks!
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How does history unfold? How do certain states of affairs become commonsensical? How should we prescribe new social norms? Drawing on some key philosophical ideas posited by Hegel and Gramsci, this week's episode contemplates the tension between a fixed and a fluid sense of history.
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Is it ever desirable to delay romantic gratification? Is it ever desirable to completely avoid serious romance? How can discipline both help and hinder romance? Focusing on an interesting interplay between two seemingly unrelated concepts, this week's episode contemplates how delayed gratification and anonymity affect our romantic relationships.
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What do we traditionally envision when we think about weakness in a man? Do the most powerful men have weaknesses? Who suffers when men can't control their weaknesses? This week's episode examines three distinct cinematic references to Napoleon Bonaparte in order to illuminate potentially forgotten forms of masculine weakness.
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What is our natural response to greed and gluttony? Why does affluence frustrate us in the real world? Who is responsible for our constant hunger for more? This week's episode looks at films in which motifs of food and consumption are used to explore exploitation, affluence and the consolidation of power.
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How quickly can things fall to pieces? How easy is it to dissect a tragedy in its aftermath? Do new eras always improve on the failures of past eras? This week's episode builds on last week's discussions about the the relationship between the past and present by exploring how individuals, relationships and political entities experience their own ends.
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Can we ever sympathise with those who abandon others? How does the constant pursuit of novelty bring about suffering? Can we simultaneously cherish and abandon the past? Focusing particularly on films depicting contemporary cosmopolitan culture, this week's episode explores the various effects of abandoning important people and parts of ourselves in search of a better future.
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Are we capable of seeing beauty in everything? Can romanticising ever be dangerous? What is true love, if not pure and perfect? Following our recent conversations on relationships and companionship, this week's episode explores the various cultural attitudes and movements that have blossumed from the ancient concept of romance.
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Why do we often mistake villains for heroes? Can a person's heroism be determined by time? How do we often find our bearings in morally confused scenarios? In reflecting on current geopolitical events, this week's episode contemplates the relationship between time and heroism.
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How can we bond with someone who shows no interest in doing so? Can attempting to bond with others ever endanger us? Is bonding always a peaceful process? Building further on recent discussions about human interconnectedness, this week's episode focuses on connections specifically between two people.
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What are the temptations and limitations of 'the lone wolf' archetype? Can we ever have too many relationships? What does undesirable human interconnectedness look like in the 21st century? To celebrate the 2023 2XXFM Radiothon, we will be looking at three gala selections from this year's London Film Festival and focusing on a topical through-line that underpins them.
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Can independent pontification be a zero-sum game? Can we bond over an openness to the unknown? What is the relationship between truth and the stance of the majority? This week's episode focuses on three cinematic explorations of verbal contemplation and considers the consequences of adding further perspectives.
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How much do we dream? How are our dreams constrained by reality? Can we value and respect our dreams in light of reality? Capping off this season before a few week's break, this week's episode explores competing ideas about fantasy and reality through the the lens of Damien Chazelle's 'La La Land'.
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Who is susceptible to lamenting lost love? How painful is it to accept that love is lost? Is there any way to find our bearings when navigating a world of endless romantic options? Focusing on three films centred on tragic love triangles, this week's episode explores how we grieve relationships that could have been.
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How does it feel to be young? Can we grow up too fast? Is it ever desirable for young people to rebel against their elders? This week's episode focuses on the risk-riddled aspects of growing up to question the line between healthy and unhealthy rule-breaking.
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To what extent does the alien mesmerise us? How have we dealt with aliens thoughout history? What should be our default position when encountering the alien? In contemplating the symbolic value of alien encounters when depicted cinematically, this week's episode explores the ways in which we deal with the strange and mesmeric.
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How do we feel about good fathers? How do we feel about mothers and matriarchy? Can our acceptance of time revitalise our appreciation for parenting? Acknowledging the impact titles have on the way we watch films, this week's episode explores the many dimensions of parenting.
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How should we view the hidden lives of public icons? In what circumstances can we benefit from accessing our inner demons? How costly is the price of prominence? Focusing on three films from the recent season of Black Mirror, this week's episode explores the relationship between notoriety and inner demons.
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How do we suffer on the level of the individual? How do the grievances of the individual and the collective compare? What are the dangers of neglecting the individual? In this special early episode, we explore the Barbenheimer phenomenon and the insights it gives us into the current cultural climate.
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Is the countryside instinctively alluring? What are the political and economic grievances of the modern farmer? Should our conception of rural culture be static or ever-changing? With the release of 'Alcarràs', this week's episode focuses on the political philosophy of rural life through 3 distinct cinematic depictions.
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How do we think of people when their true selves are unobservable? Is the projection of false identities onto others an inevitability? To what extent do people actually have multiple identities? Using a relatable romantic scenario as our springboard, this week's episode explores the ways in which we project imagined identities onto other people.
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What is it dangerous for the past to re-surface? Do we ever feel obliged to pay tribute to those that are no longer with us? How should we conceive the past?
This week's episode uses the complex relationship Germany has with preserving its history as a lens through which we can search for an enlightening way to deal with the past.
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Can intimacy come before love? Do our circumstances ever force us to demand love? Can people explore the world without love? This week's episode examines the relationship between intimacy and love by analogising it to that between a horse and cart.
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How strong are most family ties? Why might people refrain from being honest with their loved ones? Can we ever honour our families too much? In acknowledging the relationship between honour and honesty, this week's episode uncovers yet another complexity in the relations we have with the ones we love.
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To what extent are the realms constructed by artists part of reality? How much artistic value does reality itself offer? Do archetypal and realist narratives make up for each other's shortcomings? Responding to recent trends in mainstream cinema, this week's episode examines three films set in New York to explore inter-dimensional storytelling.
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Does extreme comfort guarantee us healthy relationships? Are there different forms of human attraction that sit on a sliding scale? How do sex and companionship complement and combat one another? In contemplating the interplay between leisure and love, this week's episode examines three films in which relationship drama is set against a backdrop of decadence and relaxation.
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Do all people inevitably yearn for stability in companionship? On whom do the needs of the vulnerable traditionally fall? Is it noble to voluntarily take on other people's burdens?
Following recent conversations about the aggressive aspect of femininity, this week's episode examines the abandoned caregiver archetype through three cinematic depictions of single mothers.
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Do we all partly reject and partly cherish tradition? Do we only observe this tension on the level of the individual? Are there certain values that transcend conservatism and progressivism? Following last week's brief discussion about the instability of binaries, this week's episode splices two seemingly contradictory ideologies.
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Are narratives only found in storybooks? How contextual are human values? How can strategic thinking help us improve the world? Through the lens of cinema, this week's episode seeks to explore the many lessons that sport can teach us about ourselves and reality.
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Should we embrace our inner monster? To whom is an un-fettered monster undesirable? How should we view the monsters in our lives? After last week's discussions about cowards and devouring mothers, this week's episode seeks to unearth some alternative ideas about aggressive femininity.
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What is cowardice? From where can cowards originate? How can we transcend cowardice? Focusing particularly on male characters with a cowardly demeanour, this week's episode evaluates the worth of traditional masculinity during a time in which it is so often scrutinised.
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Why do we yearn for security? Can safety precautions ever go too far? How easily do we trust the untrustworthy? With the upcoming release of 'November' to Australian cinemas on 11 May 2023, this week's episode carries on from recent discussions about the thin line between being protected and being controlled.
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How do we see ourselves in a world of apparent widespread conformity? Why and how do masses of people become controlled? Can we ever be truly un-ideological? After briefly touching on the cost of technological innovation last week, this week's episode examines cinematic depictions of simulations in the late 90s as metaphors for totalitarian control.
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What are the costs of innovation? What is the chance of failure in seeking progress? How should we progress knowing so little about the universe? Following some recent discussion about our existential condition, this week's episode contemplates arguably the biggest question of them all: how and why should the human race endure?
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What is the key to sexual maturity? Is it easy accept sexual freedom in our partners? What are the consequences of demonising a person's sexual urges? Following some similar conversations around sexuality and maturity, this week's episode examines films in which dancing is used as a symbol for sexual liberation.
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Is it a simple fact that that poverty is the parent of revolution and crime? With whom and where do wars start and end? Is war always born out of hate and fear? Advancing previous discussions on the topic, this week's episode contemplates the fundamental causes of war to re-conceptualise armed conflict as a never-ending human struggle.
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With what does a seaside escape provide us? How should we understand the urge to embrace the abyss? What can we gain from confronting limitlessness? After many tentative discussions about the subject, this week's episode specifically focuses on the symbolic significance of summer pilgrimages to the seaside.
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Who is the worst kind of enemy? Do we ever embody the traits of our enemies? How often do people actually find themselves in a state of head-to-head conflict? Building on previous conversations about enemies and the duality of man, this week's episode confronts the somewhat bipolar aspect of the human condition.
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What can younger men learn from older women? What can older women learn from younger men? What are the dangers of ignoring the intersection of age and gender? Following last week's examination of the traditional dynamics between older men and younger women, this week's episode examines the contrary.
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What does a classic protector look like? Do we ever let predators into our lives? Are princesses always in need of protection? Specifically focusing on films where young girls and older men are paired together, this week's episode examines traditional ideas about power and vulnerability through the lenses of age and gender.
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What accounts for the demise of 'competence'? What accounts for the rise of 'incompetence'? How and why should the world maximise the grand sum of human competence? With the release of Todd Field's newest film, 'Tár' (2022), this week's episode examines the differing ways in which modern societies respond to competence and incompetence.
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What kinds of people do we specifically meet at work? Can the workplace be the key to our self-development? Can we still benefit from a poor work environment? Noting a common trait in multiple coming of age films set in the the 1980s, this week's episode examines the ways in which the workplace can help us grow in early adulthood.
The Films:
'Caddyshack' (1980) d. Harold Ramis
'Mystic Pizza' (1988) d. Donald Petrie
'Adventureland' (2009) d. Greg Mottola
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Is indulgence dangerous? Why does indulgence perpetually endanger us? In whom does indulgence manifest itself? Given that we are in the heart of awards season, this week's episode takes a look at one of the major cinematic trends of 2022.
The Films:
'Babylon' (2022) d. Damien Chazelle
'The Whale' (2022) d. Darren Aronofsky
'Triangle of Sadness' (2022) d. Ruben Östlund
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What is the relationship between the conscience and the self? Can listening to our conscience ever be a bad thing? If not our conscience, what should we listen to? Building on some brief discussions in last week's episode about self-discovery, this week's episode tackles the relationship we have with the voices inside our heads that purport to guide us.
The Films:
'Pinocchio' (2022) d. Guillermo del Toro & Mark Gustafson
'Heathers' (1988) d. Michael Lehmann
'Donnie Darko' (2001) d. Richard Kelly
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How can going undercover threaten our identity? What kinds of people go undercover? Can we ever reach a point of no return when going undercover? Following recent discussions about the relationship between public opinion and living virtuously, this week's episode contemplates the efficacy of joining forces with our enemies to defeat them from within.
The Films:
'Mean Girls' (2004) d. Mark Waters
'The Departed' d. Martin Scorsese
'Le Doulos' (1962) d. Jean-Pierre Melville
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Are the people we hate always our true enemies? Can personal flaws ever be a badge of honour? Are we adept at recognising hate in ourselves? Building on last week's conversation about the relationship between modern protectors and those they protect, this week's episode examines the power of a negative public image.
The Films:
'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' (2001) d. Chris Columbus
'12 Angry Men' (1957) d. Sidney Lumet
'Ladybird' (2017) d. Greta Gerwig
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What is the nature of state control in the 21st century? When do the ends justify the means? Can we simultaneously act righteously and avoid enemy attacks? Focusing specifically on films set in the mid to late 2000s, this week's episode contemplates the dangers and obligations of 21st century technocracies.
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What is the relationship between people and space? How should we compartmentalise people and key life events? Can we meet people more than once? As we say goodbye to 2022, this week's episode examines the various ways independence, acceptance and romantic maturity are commonly explored in multiple films set in late December.
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Under what circumstances do we seek isolation? Can systems designed to serve us ever imprison us? Can we ever be imprisoned by desire? As we enter the final weeks of December 2022, this week's episode examines the curious intersection of Christmas movies and the themes explored in the writings of Franz Kafka.
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How can social change be instantly ignited? Are human beings doomed to a prison of idealism? How should we act in the wake of annihilation? To conclude our two-week series on Russia, this week's episode focuses on the rise of the Soviet Union, the perennial dilemmas it failed to solve and the burdens of geopolitical heavyweights.
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What does Russia feel that it has to protect? What is required when establishing a cultural identity? What is required to protect a cultural identity? With the recent release of 'Kompromat', both this week and next week's episodes will try to account for Russia's current cultural identity in order to better understand its recent geopolitical behaviour.
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Can tyrants maintain their power forever? Is absolute power unattainable in reality? Do human beings idealise a certain form of governance? Following on from last week's brief discussion of tyranny, this week's episode examines the complex relationship between authoritarian rulers and their subjects.
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How closely related are our concepts of heaven and hell? Whose good intentions pave the way to hell? What might be the path to heaven? Viewing heaven and hell through a somewhat conceptual and secular lens, this week's episode evaluates the eternal resonance of our everyday actions.
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How does satire advance social progress? Can the conventional become absurd? Are there shortcomings to contemptuous cinema? Covering a body of work that spans multiple decades, this week's episode explores the popular and compelling films of Adam McKay to contemplate how best to maximise cultural influence.
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The Canberra Short Film Festival is back and in this week's episode, we are joined by festival entrants Stephanie Begg and Josh Mawer to chat all things short film making.
All of the important details about this year's festival can be found at the official CSFF website here: https://www.csff.com.au/
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How profound is the home ground advantage? Does a legal right to a home necessarily endow someone with a home ground advantage? How do the power dynamics associated with the home ground advantage play out in the real world? This week's episode focuses on the distinct sense of dominance locals often assert over outsiders and contemplates what specific factors need to be enlivened in order to access it.
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What accounts for society's attraction to college? What are the limitations of the arts and culture? Can we maintain our youth as we age? Focusing specifically on films in which adult men return to college, this week's episode examines the flurry of emotions we feel when we meditate on our formative years.
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From where does rebellion generate? Who controls America? To what extent do Americans have a shared experience? Focusing specifically on the filmography of Robert Altman, this week's episode seeks to uncover some updated insights on the land of the free.
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How might moods be set? What unique powers do filmmakers possess? Can creative expression be therapeutic for both the creator and their audience? Following last week's episode, in which we discussed 'Ghost World' (2001), we are joined by special guest and legendary American director Terry Zwigoff to discuss his relationship with music, visual art and film.
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What are the dangers of believing things we cannot prove? Can we exist without believing in something? How do we know when we can have faith in someone? Building on last week's episode on infidelity, this week's episode embarks on a broader exploration of faith and trust in people.
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Does cheating always catch up on us? Who is destined to stray from their spouse? How can we overcome unfaithfulness? Through the lens of romantic infidelity, this week's episode explores the ways in which our faith in one another can be tested and strengthened.
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Can talent be a curse? To what extent does talent serve the talented? How and when should we wield our talents? It's a Bette Davis double this week, as we explore the darker side of being gifted.
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What are the dangers of media spectacles? Are all news stories merely spectacles? Is there a healthy way to consume corporate media? In light of some seemingly opposing ideas from two recent films, this week's episode contemplates the dangers of modern media consumption.
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What are some of the lingering issues in modern Middle Eastern cultures? What is the continuing relationship between political and personal emancipation in the Middle Eastern context? What cultural characteristics do gross acts of violence illuminate?
In this week's episode, Jimmy is joined by special guest Sarah Barrie, who has studied, worked in and travelled extensively throughout the Middle East, to discuss three impactful films that have come out of the region in recent decades.
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How does the state treat those who rebel against it? How should we view an oppressive state? What are we actually referring to when we talk about 'the state'? In discussing three films that centre on the relationship between 'rebellious' individuals and the institutions that govern them, this week's episode questions the various attitudes we have toward those in power.
The Films:
'Cool Hand Luke' (1967) directed by Stuart Rosenberg
'The Conference' (2022) directed by Matti Geschonneck
'The People vs. Larry Flynt' (1996) directed by Milos Forman
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How do we view ourselves in relation to others? Are people ever the same? What does the meaning of life cost? In exploring some of the bigger philosophical questions we all face, this week's episode focuses on the curiously common cross-over of stop motion and existential cinema.
The Films:
'Anomalisa' (2015) directed by Duke Johnson and Charlie Kaufman
'Harvie Krumpet' (2003) directed by Adam Elliot
'$9.99' (2008) directed by Tatia Rosenthal
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How does it feel to be inundated with unwelcome stress? How can our own actions contribute to stress? Can stress ever be desirable? This week's episode focuses on three high-tempo films in which the titular protagonists are relentlessly burdened by various sources of stress.
The Films:
'After Hours' (1985) directed by Martin Scorsese
'Uncut Gems' (2019) directed by Josh Safdie and Benny Safdie
'Full Time' (2021) directed by Eric Gravel
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How do false images of faraway lands affect us? What is the relationship between our choices and the world around us? What impact has modernisation had on interhuman connectivity? In another special guest(s) episode, Jimmy sits down with Benson Wu, Helen Stenbeck and Yi-Tsun Chen from the 2022 Taiwanese Film Festival to chat about the ongoing transformations in Taiwan and its film industry and what audiences can look forward to at this year's festival.
The Films:
'Homebound' (2022) directed by Ismail Fahmi Lubish
'Goddamned Asura' (2021) directed by Yi-an Lou
'Yi Yi' (2000) directed by Edward Yang
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What can the vicious act of murder teach us about strategy and logic? What does the act of play uncover in the face of mystery? Are we more attentive to truth when we find it ourselves? In this week's special episode, Jimmy sits down with French director Nicolas Pleskof to chat about his new film, 'Murder Party', and the intersection of games and murder.
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How should we view 'lowbrow' art? How should we approach conflicting views on artistic value? Is it useful for people to have differences in taste? Drawing on a number of themes raised in recent weeks, this week's episode challenges the highbrow/lowbrow dichotomy by examining cinematic depictions of filmmaking, architecture and archeology.
The Films:
'Sullivan's Travels' (1941) directed by Preston Sturges
'In Bruges' (2008) directed by Martin McDonagh
'Compartment Number 6' (2021) directed by Juho Kuosmanen
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What is the essence of brotherhood? What does true brotherhood feel like? What is required to find our brothers? Focusing on three modern American cinematic odysseys, this week's episode examines the long and adventurous journeys upon which we embark in finding and embracing our fellow man.
The Films:
'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' (2000) directed by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
'About Schmidt' (2002) directed by Alexander Payne
'The Straight Story' (1999) directed by David Lynch
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How does it feel to suffer at the hands of our predecessors? Should we dispose of everything tainted by past mistakes? How can we view the burdens we inherit constructively? This week's episode examines three cinematic personifications of the past in order to unpack a key aspect of the eternal tension between conservatism and progressivism
The Films:
'Hereditary' (2018) directed by Ari Aster
'Once Were Warriors' (1994) directed by Lee Tamahori
'The Descendants' (2011) directed by Alexander Payne
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What are the dangers of indecisiveness? What are the dangers of self-discipline? What is the relationship between self-improvement and community? Following on from last week's discussion about the line between sacrifice and suicide, this week's episode looks at three cinematic depictions of jazz to distinguish self-discipline from self-destruction.
The Films:
'Cold War' (2018) directed by Pawel Pawlikowski
'Whiplash' (2014) directed by Damien Chazelle
''Round Midnight' (1986) directed by Bertrand Tavernier
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What does it take to abandon a toxic relationship? How do we endure through a lifetime of betrayal? Who is ultimately burdened with the responsibility of emancipating us from imprisoning relationships? Exploring the inverse of a number of themes covered over the past few weeks, this week's episode focuses on three romantically unfulfilled female protagonists confronting the fallout of severed relationships.
The Films:
'Midsommar' (2019) directed by Ari Aster
'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore' (1974) directed by Martin Scorsese
'Good Luck to You, Leo Grande' (2022) directed by Sophie Hyde
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How should outsiders behave in new and confronting circumstances? What happens when we follow the dominant mob? What is at the core of societal tension? Following on from discussions about the darker sides of masculinity, this week's episode focuses on a sub-genre of films from the early seventies that explored the friction between outsiders and communities with established traditions.
The Films:
'Straw Dogs' (1971) directed by Sam Peckinpah
'Wake in Fright' (1971) directed by Ted Kotcheff
'The Wicker Man' (1973) directed by Robin Hardy
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From where does the killer instinct come? Should the state have the power to enact violence? When, if ever, is violence morally justifiable? Following on from recent episodes, in which we have explored confrontational and destructive societal tendencies, this week's episode further examines the nullification of those we despise.
The Films:
'Snowtown' (2011) directed by Justin Kurzel
'Killer Joe' (2011) directed by William Friedkin
'Sling Blade' (1996) directed by Billy Bob Thornton
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What is the relationship between injustice and destruction? Can we apprehend imminent destruction? What happens when we completely abandon the feminine? In light of recent events, this week's episode focuses on the potentially dangerous traits of the typical male psyche.
The Films:
Taxi Driver (1976) directed by Martin Scorsese
La Haine (1995) directed by Mathieu Kassovitz
This Sporting Life (1963) directed by Lindsay Anderson
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Can we actually eliminate our enemies? How can we reconcile our differences? Where should we look for our enemies? Expanding our conversations into the romantic, political and personal realms, this week's episode contemplates the ways in which we should deal with those we oppose.
The Films:
Dial M for Murder (1954) directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Zulu (1964) directed by Cy Endfield
Suspiria (1977) directed by Dario Argento
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Do humans have the capacity to prophesy and preach truth? How do we identify false prophets? How adept are we at knowing when we are under someone's spell? Following recent episodes about the nature of cultural leaders, this episode focuses on the processes that underpin deceitful leadership.
The Films:
La Ricotta (1962) directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini
The Night of the Hunter (1955) directed by Charles Laughton
Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011) directed by Sean Durkin
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How powerful is nostalgia? How should we view the past? How should we use the past? This week's episode explores one of cinema's most iconic metaphors to unpack the power of the past.
The Films:
Citizen Kane (1941) directed by Orson Welles
Midnight in Paris (2011) directed by Woody Allen
Be Kind Rewind (2008) directed by Michel Gondry
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Why does Hollywood sometimes annoy us? Are entertainers necessary? How should we respond to our cultural leaders? With Hollywood receiving an increasing amount of scrutiny in recent years, this week's episode explores what the entertainment industry has to say about its own potential failings.
The Films:
Tropic Thunder (2008) directed by Ben Stiller
Waiting for Guffman (1996) directed by Christopher Guest
Team America (2004) directed by Trey Parker
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How do we successfully protect the public? What does the ideal protector look like? What do true heroes do? Focusing specifically on mid-80s to early 90s action films, this week's episode examines three specific movie cops in contemplating what society values in its protectors.
The Films:
Beverley Hills Cop (1984) directed by Martin Brest
RoboCop (1987) directed by Paul Verhoeven
Supercop (aka Police Story 3) directed by Stanley Tong
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Do society's fears change over time? How does it feel to fear? Is there a way to leave our fears in the past? Following on from the 'Scary Stalkers' episode released a few weeks ago, this week's episode examines the ways in which the 'slasher' sub-genre has been re-imagined in the 21st century, specifically focusing on subversive depictions of 'the final girl'.
The Films:
Scream (1996) directed by Wes Craven
It Follows (2014) directed by David Robert Mitchell
X (2022) directed by Ti West
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Do we relate to each other in different ways as time passes? What are some of the consequences of misunderstanding someone? Are we doomed by our interpersonal differences? Focusing specifically on retrospective depictions of the mid to late 1970s and early 80s, this week's episode explores the ways in which opposites repel, alienate and attract one another in the modern world.
The Films:
The Last Days of Disco (1998) directed by Whit Stillman
The Virgin Suicides (1999) directed by Sofia Coppola
Licorice Pizza (2021) directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
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How do we feel after making bad decisions? What should we do (or not do) when we realise that we have made a bad decision? Will we consistently make the right (or wrong) decision throughout the entirety of our lives? Using Robert Frost's iconic poem as its springboard, this week's episode explores the feelings of guilt, regret and remorse that often overwhelm us after making discretionary choices.
The Films:
I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) directed by Jim Gillespie
Force Majeure (2014) directed by Ruben Östlund
The Daytrippers (1997) directed by Greg Mottola
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Do all people desire the same thing? What does it look like to be enslaved by biological impulses? What does it look like to invest in our desires? Focusing specifically on American cinema from the late 80s to the mid 90s, this week's episode explores the interplay between human sexuality, human desire and the media.
The Films:
To Die For (1995) directed by Gus Van Sant
Crash (1996) directed by David Cronenberg
Sex, Lies and Videotape (1989) directed by Steven Soderbergh
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Why should we watch films? What can we gain from watching films? What is the point of Sacred Cinema? Jimmy has managed to catch COVID-19 and is locked up in quarantine. Without a studio to keep his voice crisp, this week's very brief episode is a chance for him to talk about his love of movies and the ultimate goal of Sacred Cinema.
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How do some fathers become overly oppressive? What do fathers ultimately fear for their families? How should we view ourselves in protecting our loved ones? After last week's episode focusing on the less attractive sides of motherhood, this week's episode explores the aspects of fatherhood that instil fear in both fathers and their families.
The Films:
Dogtooth (2009) directed by Yorgos Lanthimos
Take Shelter (2011) directed by Jeff Nichols
Distant Voices, Still Lives (1988) directed by Terence Davies
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Why is motherhood deeply profound? What are some of the terrifying aspects of motherhood? How should we confront a terrified mother? With the release of Quo Vadis, Aida? to Australian cinemas, this week's episode focuses on the more intense elements of motherhood and formulates some ways in which we can sympathise more with the people who gave life to us.
The Films:
Quo Vadis, Aida? (2020) directed by Jasmila Žbanić
Secrets & Lies (1996) directed by Mike Leigh
Autumn Sonata (1978) directed by Ingmar Bergman
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What do the slow but steady steps of indestructible stalkers symbolise? Why do we feel compelled to acknowledge their presence? How should we face the things that relentlessly haunt us? The late 1970s and early 1980s gave rise to a cinematic archetype that continues to creep out of the shadows in contemporary horror films. This week, we contemplate what the scary stalker might symbolise in order to better face our forever dormant fears.
The Films:
Halloween (1978) directed by John Carpenter
Friday the 13th (1980) directed by Sean S. Cunningham
A Nightmare on Elm St (1984) directed by Wes Craven
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From where is fear sourced? What is the cost of seeking to overcome the unknown? Can we ever escape the unknown, or should we learn to embrace it? This week, we contemplate the symbolic value of the blue abyss we call the sea by discussing three films in which it is a central motif.
The Films:
Deep Blue Sea (1998) directed by Renny Harlin
The Big Blue (1988) directed by Luc Besson
The Deep Blue Sea (2011) directed by Terence Davies
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From where does extreme violence come? How do we respond to what lurks in the shadows? How should we act in the face of war? In this week's episode, we take a look at three films set during World War II, viewing the global conflict as a spotlight on the extremes of the human condition.
The Films:
The Thin Red Line (1998) directed by Terrence Malick
Das Boot (1981) directed by Wolfgang Peterson
Schindler's List (1993) directed by Steven Spielberg
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Can human constructs accurately explain nature? What happens when we try to solve nature? How should we relate to nature? This week's show focuses on 5 films from Australian director Peter Weir, tracking and discussing his various explorations of mankind's relationship with nature.
The Films:
The Cars That Ate Paris (1974) directed by Peter Weir
Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) directed by Peter Weir
The Mosquito Coast (1986) directed by Peter Weir
Master and Commander (2003) directed by Peter Weir
The Way Back (2010) directed by Peter Weir
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In what circumstances do we value maturity? When is maturity necessary? Is maturity ever a dangerous illusion? In a 'Sacred Cinema' first, this week's show focuses on three films that all come from the same director - Sean Baker. Each film centres on a relationship between two individuals from different generations, illuminating the impact and importance of growing up properly.
The Films:
Starlet (2012) directed by Sean Baker
The Florida Project (2017)directed by Sean Baker
Red Rocket (2021)directed by Sean Baker
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Why does Santa Claus remain prominent? What is the essence of Santa Claus? What does it mean to 'believe'? Iterations and variations of St Nicholas have persisted for centuries. In this episode, we look at three somewhat recent Christmas films to contemplate why this might be.
The Films:
Die Hard (1988) directed by John McTiernan
Bad Santa (2003) directed by Terry Zwigoff
Krampus (2015) directed by Michael Dougherty
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In what circumstances do we experience exploitation? How should we understand the sex work industry? What is the way forward for the exploited? Looking at prostitution through a broad and symbolic lens, this week's episode focusing on three distinct films to contemplate the relationship between human dignity and commercial transactions.
The Films:
Vivre Sa Vie (1962) directed by Jean-Luc Godard
Tangerine (2015) directed by Sean Baker
Nights of Cabiria (1957) directed by Federico Fellini
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How does it feel to be rejected? Why do we get 'the ick'? How should we respond when someone has 'the ick' in relation to us? In this episode, we looks at three films that explore the social phenomenon knows as 'the ick', where a person becomes almost instantaneously repulsed by someone they may have once found quite appealing.
The Films:
'Contempt' (1963) directed by Jean-Luc Godard
'The Fly' (1986) directed by David Cronenberg
'Another Year' (2010) directed by Mike Leigh
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Is silence ever courageous? What is the relationship between silence and social change? Is there anything beneficial about being silenced? In this week's episode, we focus on three films set in Japan, a country that has oscillated between moments peaceful quiet and explosive loudness throughout its history.
The Films:
Silence (2016) directed by Martin Scorcese
Good Morning (1959) directed by Yasujirô Ozu
Lost in Translation (2003) directed by Sofia Coppola
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Why are we so consumed by technology? Are we always fearful of technological advancements? What is our end goal in advancing technology? In this episode, we look at various cinematic depictions of the relationship between humans and technology to contemplate when this relationship started and where it will lead.
The Films:
'Tetsuo: The Iron Man' (1989) directed by Shinya Tsukamoto
'Aliens' (1986) directed by James Cameron
'2001: A Space Odyssey' (1968) directed by Stanley Kubrick
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What does it feel like to lose control of the body? Where might a lack of control over the body lead us? Why do we want control over the body? In this episode, we look at three cinematic instances in which bodily autonomy is threatened and discuss why such depictions evoke various emotional responses.
The Films:
Alien (1979) directed by Ridley Scot
Swallow (2019) directed by Carlo Mirabella-Davis
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) directed by Don Siegel
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Why do we care about freedom? What does freedom feel like? What do we need to achieve a sense of freedom? In this episode, we take a look at three films that depict the struggle to break free of both literal and metaphorical imprisonment.
The Films:
The Rock (1996) directed by Michael Bay
Pickpocket (1959) directed by Robert Bresson
Ace in the Hole (1951) directed by Billy Wilder
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Why do we wear masks? How do masks affect our relationships with other people? Are there any benefits to being masked? Throughout human history, people have worn masks for various reasons. In this episode, we discuss multiple masked cinematic characters and what face covering suggests about human nature more broadly.
The Films:
Eyes Without a Face (1960) directed by Georges Franju
Goodnight Mommy (2014) directed by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala
The Mask of Zorro (1920) directed by Fred Niblo
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How do empowered women experience love? Is the relationship between love and power gender-specific? How do we want to be loved? In this episode, we analyse three female protagonists, all of which are challenged by the implications their authority has on their respective romantic lives.
The Films:
Roman Holiday (1953) directed by William Wyler
Chocolat (1988) directed by Claire Denis
Notting Hill (1999) directed by Roger Michell
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When do we start falling in love? Why we take risks in love? Do we ever grow out of our immaturity? Each of this week's films centre on a fifteen year-old girl and explore their respective initial encounters with love, sex and relationships.
The Films"
Fish Tank (2009) directed by Andrea Arnold
It Felt Like Love (2013) directed by Eliza Hittman
Pauline at the Beach (1983) directed by Éric Rohmer
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How has cinema enhanced the 'Beauty and the Beast' fairytale? What is true beastly behaviour? To what extent should beauties embrace (or reject) beasts? Stories centred on female characters confronting their beastly counterparts have been told and re-told for centuries. In this episode, we focus on three films that re-imagine this archetypal dynamic and discuss what they reveal about womanhood, carnal instincts and emotional stability.
The Films:
Beauty and the Beast (1946) directed by Jean Cocteau
The Beast (1975) directed by Walerian Borowczyk
The Babadook (2014) directed by Jennifer Kent
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What do werewolves symbolise? Can we outlive our inner demons? What are the consequences of indulging pure evil? In this episode, we discuss the varying ways in which werewolves have been depicted throughout cinematic history and question what their symbolic value suggests about human nature?
The Films:
The Wolf Man (1941) directed by George Waggner
The Wolfman (2010) directed by Joe Johnston
An American Werewolf in London (1981) directed by John Landis
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Why do we hunt each other down? What does a manhunt ultimately achieve? Is it ever dangerous to embark on a manhunt? In this episode, we look at three cinematic examples of the manhunt to identify the origins of this age-old ritual and what it might entail for both the hunter and hunted alike.
The Films:
Manhunter (1986) directed by Michael Mann
The Fugitive (1993) directed by Andrew Davis
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) directed by Robert Wiene
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What does the Hollywood pilgrimage require? What is the power of Hollywood? How does one succeed on the big stage? Often the subject of its own creations, there is no shortage of films that depict life in Hollywood. In this episode, we take a look at three various cinematic depictions of the Hollywood experience and explore the inner workings of this cultural powerhouse.
The Films:
Swingers (1996) directed by Doug Liman
Under the Silver Lake (2018) directed by David Robert Mitchell
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) directed by Quentin Tarentino
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What does it take to create something? What is the life of a creator? How should we respond to art and creative expressions? In this episode, we discuss three cinematic depictions of creators and analyse the consequences of their respective creations.
The Films:
The Golem (1920) directed by Paul Wegener and Carl Boese
8½ (1963) directed by Federico Fellini
Ed Wood (1994) directed by Tim Burton
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What kinds of men attract attention? How do we justify our obsessions? What are the ultimate sources of betrayal and vengeance? Following a past episode on 'Women with Gravity', this episode focuses on American cinema of the late 80 and 90s to explore the roots and implications of instances in which we obsess over men.
The Films:
Fatal Attraction (1987) directed by Adrian Lyne
Misery (1990) directed by Rob Reiner
Cape Fear (1991) directed by Martin Scorsese
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What are we the ultimate goals of modernity? Is it dangerous to abandon modernity? Can we live in harmony with nature? In this episode, we discuss the concepts of development, ideology and environmental degradation by looking at three films that each explore a distinct period of the modern age.
The Films:
Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972) directed by Werner Herzog
Stalker (1979) directed by Andrei Tarkovsky
Old Joy (2006) directed by Kelly Reichardt
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Why do women often feel suffocated? Is idolatry inevitable? How should we view others? In this episode, we discuss multiple cinematic depictions of women who attract attention and contemplate the dangers of social suffocation.
The Films:
The Collector (1967) directed by Éric Rohmer
Shiva Baby (2020) directed by Emma Seligman
Ema (2019) directed by Pablo Larraín
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Is victimhood gender-specific? How should we attribute blame? Are claims to victimhood universal? Following a past episode on 'Male Victimhood', this episode compares the journeys of various female characters from cinema history, focusing specifically on their dealings with suffering, blame and responsibility.
The Films:
La Strada (1954) directed by Federico Fellini
Requiem for a Dream (2000) directed by Darren Aronofsky
Rashomon (1950) directed by Akira Kurosawa
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How does our impending death impact our lives? What does it mean to die? How should we spend our time on Earth? In this episode, we look at three cinematic explorations of death to gain some insight into how we should live.
The Films:
The Seventh Seal (1957) directed by Ingmar Bergman
The Fountain (2006) directed by Darren Aronofsky
Ikiru (1952) directed by Akira Kurosawa
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How do we reconcile our sense of rationality with our emotions? Are there various lenses through which we can understand human nature? In this episode, we explore and question the traditional dualistic view of the human condition by considering various insights provided by three distinct films.
The Films:
Apocalypse Now (1979) directed by Francis Ford Coppola
Persona (1966) directed by Ingmar Bergman
Mulholland Drive (2001) directed by David Lynch
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Why do we both seek and avoid the truth? What should we do when we encounter uncomfortable truths? In this episode, we focus on three films that explore the sometimes liberating and other times frightening concept of reality.
The Films:
The Truman Show (1998) directed by Peter Weir
Come and See (1985) directed by Elem Klimov
Blue Velvet (1986) directed by David Lynch
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Why do we run away? Do we ever look back? Can we ever fix the mistakes of our past? In this episode, we take a look at multiple cinematic characterisations of the modern American drifter in contemplating whether there is ever a way home once we leave it.
The Films:
What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) directed by Lasse Hallström
Five Easy Pieces (1970) directed by Bob Rafelson
Paris, Texas (1984) directed by Wim Wenders
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Can men be victims? Do men outgrow victimhood? Should men view themselves as victims? In contemplating these questions, this episode focuses on the changing depiction of men in British cinema throughout the late 50s and 60s.
The Films:
Kes (1969) directed by Ken Loach
Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1960) directed by Karel Reisz
If.... (1968) directed by Lyndsay Anderson
Look Back in Anger (1959) directed by Tony Richardson
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Can we be truly free whilst engaged in a relationship? Are relationships a form of emotional imprisonment? Do relationships guarantee us unique freedoms? In this episode, we discuss the impact romantic love has on individual freedom by looking at how the relationship between these two concepts is explored in three different films.
The Films:
The Piano (1993) directed by Jane Campion
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) directed by Céline Sciamma
Phantom Thread (2017) directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
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What are the goals of people with power? How do they emerge? How do we fall under their spell? In this episode, we discuss three cinematic depictions of authority figures and contemplate whether there are any lessons to be learnt from viewing them side by side.
The Films:
There Will Be Blood (2007) directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
Cabaret (1972) directed by Bob Fosse
The Master (2012) directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
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