Monocle 24: The Cinema Show: Recent Episodes
Monocle
Monocle 24’s carefully curated selection of the best in cinema. Hear from film-makers, critics and legends of the craft as we shine a spotlight on everything from revivals and the restoration of vintage cuts to European film and the role of the auteur. ‘The Cinema Show’ is brought to you in association with MUBI.
A look-ahead at what we’ll be watching in 2018, what really constitutes a “film featuring a strong female lead”, and the highs and lows of 2017 at the box office.
From sets and scenery to costume creation, we sit down with some of today’s leading voices for a lesson in crafting films’ visual identity. Sean Baker, director of ‘The Florida Project’, takes us inside the setting of his standout film, we step inside the workshop of Viennese costume designer Monika Buttinger and film critic Tim Grierson explores the architecture of Woody Allen’s 1979 film ‘Manhattan’.
Grab yourself a glühwein as we get into the festive spirit with our favourite picks of the season. Tara Judah recalls some of her seasonal films, we touch down at the Rome Film Festival and embark on a tour of Alfred Hitchcock’s London.
In this inky special we examine the many ways cinema impacts the printed page. Pedro Almodovar’s storyboard artist Pablo Buratti takes us inside the often-hidden art, we get a lesson in graphic art from Austrian poster designer Matthias van Baaren, and Taschen’s Paul Duncan has the last word in creating beautiful film books.
Join us on a coastal journey from Brooklyn to Iceland as we explore three beachside films. Director Eliza Hittman discusses her sensitive portrait of a struggling young gay man in her new film, ‘Beach Rats’, and Monocle’s Carlota Rebelo reveals the story behind Wim Wenders’ affection for Lisbon. Plus: Icelandic filmmaker Erlingur Thoroddsen discusses the stunning scenery of his new thriller ‘Rift’.
Director Matt Spicer discusses the perils of social media in his Sundance award-winning new film, ‘Ingrid Goes West’. And Mike Hodges, director of the 1971 classic ‘Get Carter’, recalls the curious case of his almost-forgotten film ‘Pulp’ as it’s finally released on Blu-Ray.
Step inside Brazil’s leading animation studio, the Turma da Mônica, with the man who started it all, Mauricio de Sousa. Plus: our hand-drawn focus continues with a look at how comic-book illustrations became art and we preview Sean Baker’s new film, ‘The Florida Project’.
We’re celebrating our 100th episode by counting down our list of 100 great films featuring contributions from Xavier Dolan, Barry Jenkins, Kelly Reichardt, Nicolas Winding Refn, David Lowery and Raoul Peck.
In a show packed with tricks and treats we take a journey through cinema’s spookiest creations. Norwegian director Joachim Trier discusses his new supernatural thriller ‘Thelma’, Daniel Klemens investigates the horror-comedy genre and we survey some scary costumes with designer Laura Sindall.
Meet Hadley Freeman, journalist, author and possibly the world’s biggest fan of the classic 1982 film ‘Tootsie’. She explains why the film, which stars Dustin Hoffman, maintains a timeless relevance and why films of the 1980s are superior to today’s mainstream cinema.
Despite an angry reception in Russia, critics are raving about the new political satire ‘The Death of Stalin’. We sit down with co-writers David Schneider and Peter Fellows. Plus: a brief history of San Francisco on screen and we discover why Frederick Wiseman’s documentary ‘Ex Libris: the New York Public Library’ is an engrossing page-turner.
Meet Lois Smith, the 86-year-old actress who began her career opposite James Dean in 1955’s ‘East of Eden’. Now she’s starring with Jon Hamm in ‘Marjorie Prime’. She recalls her experience breaking into acting alongside an icon of cinema.
Will Michael Fassbender’s new detective thriller bring Nordic noir to the big screen? We investigate with its Swedish director, Tomas Alfredson. Plus: a wrap of the London Film Festival with Francois Ozon, Eliza Hittman and Matt Spicer, and 86-year-old actress Lois Smith recalls her screen debut opposite James Dean and her new starring role in ‘Marjorie Prime’ with Jon Hamm.
Step inside Madrid’s magnificent Cine Dore, the shining architectural jewel in the Spanish culture ministry’s Filmoteca and an impressive national archive of global stories committed to celluloid.
Step onto the catwalk with some of film’s finest creations in this fashion special. We assess a new documentary profiling shoemaker extraordinaire Manolo Blahnik and touch down in Milan for the city’s Fashion Film Festival. Plus: a recap of the Helsinki International Film Festival.
Meet Maysaloun Hamoud, whose debut feature ‘In Between’ tells the story of three women in Tel Aviv enjoying their independence. It’s won acclaim since its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival but also provoked fury in Israel, where Hamoud was issued with the first fatwa since 1948.
Join us on a tour of Europe’s festival circuit. We begin at the Athens International Film Festival, where Vanessa Redgrave’s migrant documentary ‘Sea Sorrow’ carries great meaning. Plus: Ildikó Enyedi, winner of this year’s Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, discusses her acclaimed film ‘On Body and Soul’ and we visit an animation festival that’s reviving a cinematic hub in Kosovo.
The French screen star sits down with Monocle’s Culture editor Robert Bound to discuss her approach to acting, the directors she chooses to work with and her relationship with the audience.
In this animation special we speak to the Academy award-winning director of Studio Ghibli masterpiece ‘The Red Turtle’. We also catch up with Iran’s leading animator Ali Soozandeh.
Meet the man behind ‘The Crying Game’, ‘Interview with the Vampire’, ‘Michael Collins’, and ‘The End of the Affair’. Today he’s one of the most sought-after film-makers.
Step inside the Venice International Film Festival as we discover how the prestigious Golden Lion is awarded with the help of jury member David Stratton and, from the Horizons section, Mark Cousins. Plus: a review of the other festival winners and a look back at classic thriller ‘Don’t Look Now’.
Meet the man in charge of restorations and revivals at this year’s 74th Venice International Film Festival. Ben Rylan sits down with Giuseppe Piccioni, jury president of the Venice Classics section, to discuss how modern audiences relate to older films.
From the Palazzo del Cinema we’re on location at the 74th Venice International Film Festival. Ben Rylan meets festival director Alberto Barbera to find out how he reinvigorated the event and brought back its prestige. Plus: we review Darren Aronofsky horror-thriller ‘mother!’, Neapolitan animation ‘Gatta Cenerentola’, and Jane Fonda and Robert Redford’s Golden Lion lifetime achievement awards.
Is virtual reality really cinema? The emerging medium has its detractors but legendary German film-maker Wim Wenders is not one of them. He explains why he has high hopes for a virtual cinematic future.
The winner of 2017’s Cannes Critics Week, Oliver Laxe, explains how he used the stunning peaks of Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains as the backdrop to his winning film ‘Mimosas’. Plus: author Richard Martin reveals why a film’s scenery often hints at its true intentions and we visit Dublin’s Light House Cinema for a look at its timely series of journalism films.
Renowned composer Michael Nyman discusses his soundtrack to the extraordinary 1997 science-fiction film ‘Gattaca’.
If you think preparing the world’s favourite cinema snack is a simple process then you’re in for a shock. We pay a visit to Joe & Seph’s popcorn kitchen, where flavours such as gin and tonic, French goat’s cheese and black pepper, and caramel and Belgian chocolate come to life. Plus: we hear from ‘Lady Macbeth’ costume designer Holly Waddington and countdown our top-five favourite costumes.
Do you fancy a glass of gin with your screening? We meet the clever folk behind Edible Cinema, an immersive event that takes food and drink off the screen and into the hands of the audience.
With both Disney and Apple focusing on exclusive streaming platforms we look at how the new world of online cinema might be repeating Hollywood history. Plus: a tribute to the screen’s original Godzilla, Haruo Nakajima, and we hear from the director of ‘Tom of Finland’, Dome Karukoski.
Writer and director David Lowery discusses his extraordinary new film starring Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara and we tell you why, despite appearances, it might be one of the most unexpectedly moving films you’re ever likely to see.
Nearly six months after his sensational victory at the 2017 Academy Awards, ‘Moonlight’ director Barry Jenkins reflects on his best-picture win and discusses the state of US culture. He also tells us why his upcoming James Baldwin adaptation is his dream project.
When James Bond met Q at London’s National Gallery in 2012’s ‘Skyfall’, the pair sat opposite a painting rich with symbolism. It also happens to be the UK’s favourite artwork. We visit the gallery with deputy director Susan Foister to discover the symbolism behind ‘The Fighting Temeraire’.
Put on your favourite neckerchief as we set sail on an epic tour of cinema’s most fashionable films. We hear from the director of the new documentary ‘Becoming Cary Grant’, preview Gucci’s latest galaxy-hopping campaign and reveal Monocle’s list of three must-see fashion films.
Designing a luxury cinema for picky picture-goers in the age of streaming is a tricky business. Architect Takero Shimazaki shares his insights following his redesign of London’s stunning Curzon Bloomsbury art house.
Join us on a city-watching tour from Istanbul to Western Australia. Ceyda Torun guides us through her delightful documentary ‘Kedi’, which tells the story of Istanbul from the perspective of its feline fanciers. Plus: ‘Hounds of Love’ writer and director Ben Young explains why he steered away from Australia’s fascination with true crime and we pay tribute zombie-genre pioneer George A Romero.
Meet the man who helped give “Nocturnal Animals” the unmistakable look for which its director, Tom Ford, is so well regarded. From 2015’s “Straight Outta Compton” to Ryan Murphy’s “The Normal Heart”, Shane Valentino explains how he designs for the screen.
Take a step inside America’s original picture palace. Since it hosted Hollywood’s very first motion picture premiere, the Egyptian Theatre has been attracting patrons to its exotic grandeur. And it’s now one of the few theatres able to screen nitrate film stock – discontinued in the 1950s due to its highly flammable state. Plus: 2017’s best releases so far and titles to watch out for in the months ahead.
Before he was making feature films Adam Smith was the creative force behind several television campaigns for brands including Nike and Adidas. He shares his thoughts on what makes an attention-grabbing TV spot.
We’re mixing an Aperol Spritz with some of our favourite film-makers as we embark on a tour of our favourite outdoor cinematic locations. We sit down for lunch with Paolo Sorrentino and take a tour of the sites of Rome as seen in ‘The Great Beauty’, before stopping off in Belgrade for a look at the city’s favourite outdoor screening event: Filmstreet.
As a sweltering summer’s day comes to a close, Melbourne’s city rooftops are transformed into bars, restaurants and, in some cases, cinemas. Pour yourself a cocktail as we explore the Lido’s screening space under the stars.
Pack your bags! We’re taking a ride across the US to visit some of the locations behind the country’s film history. In Dallas, we take a seat in the cinema where Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested shortly after the death of president John F Kennedy. Plus: how superheroes give voice to American cultural fears and the new documentary that questions popular perceptions of genetically modified food.
Come waltz with us in Vienna! Alexei Korolyov discovers how the city’s rich history of classical music gave rise to the modern film score.
Setting sail on the blue waters of the Mediterranean, we explore the real-life locations behind some of our favourite films. Malta’s film commission explains how the tiny nation has acted as a stand-in for just about everywhere, we take a tour of Italy’s most cinematic coastline and we examine the extraordinary story behind the stunning 1958 film ‘Bonjour Tristesse’.
With its exposed brick walls, custom red chairs and lush indoor greenery, New York’s Metrograph cinema is one of the world’s most beautifully designed independent picturehouses. We take a seat with founder and designer Alexander Olch.
The designers of the opening sequence of Steven Spielberg’s ‘Catch Me If You Can’ explain the importance of handcrafted originality in the digital age. Plus: ‘Slack Bay’ director Bruno Dumont takes us to the French coast with Juliette Binoche and we touch down in Vienna to rediscover the city’s favourite film.
Miljen Kreka Kljakovic has undertaken some fairly ambitious projects during his decades-long career as a production designer. He’s recreated Venice in Luxembourg and Mecca in Iran. We pay a visit to his workshop to find out how the magic is made.
Miranda Richardson and Brian Cox reveal what they learnt about the concept of leadership while playing the UK’s first couple in the new film, ‘Churchill’. Plus: director Nick Broomfield discusses his new documentary exploring another side of the legendary performer, Whitney Houston, and our top five reasons to revisit Adam West’s feature film version of ‘Batman’.
The nest of houses beneath the famous Hollywood sign is one of the best places to view the popular landmark. But some residents of the Hollywoodland neighbourhood are going to extraordinary lengths to ban tourists – with some even calling for the sign to be removed. Plus: we find out why one of Argentina’s favourite film festivals has erupted in street protests and Italian fashion designer Massimo Alba guides us through his favourite cinematic location in the Bay of Naples.
Welcome to The Cinema Show’s bite-size spin-off: Action! Each week we’ll meet the makers behind all facets of the cinema-going experience. In this premiere episode we discover the secret to perfecting Australia’s favourite movie-time snack, the ice cream choc-top.
Director Patty Jenkins was given an enormous challenge when she took on the blockbuster adaptation of superhero staple Wonder Woman. We ask whether it was worth the long wait. Plus: a special look at the handcrafted side of movie-making with poster designer Sam Smith and meet the curators of London’s ArchFilmFestival.
Among the renowned film-makers taking a seat inside the Palais du Festival at the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival this year is Michael Haneke. We speak to Toby Jones, the star of his latest film, ‘Happy End’, whose past credits range from the Harry Potter and Captain America franchises to Oliver Stone’s political drama ‘W.’ Plus: why Roger Moore will be remembered as one of the screen’s great action stars.
The 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival got off to tense start as participants and audiences clashed over whether streaming giants ought to be allowed to compete. We assess the arguments. Plus: how Warner Bros got ‘King Arthur’ so terribly wrong and why the world’s most famous giant ape is taking on the Broadway musical.
As the creative force behind such films as ‘Swimming Pool’, ‘8 Women’ and ‘Young and Beautiful’, François Ozon has become one of the most respected and versatile directors working today. In this special extended interview the French filmmaker discusses his passion for the craft and how his new film, ‘Frantz’, touches upon some surprising parallels with Europe’s current political machinations.
Director William Oldroyd and actress Florence Pugh discuss gripping new drama ‘Lady Macbeth’ and 50 years after the disastrous release of ‘Valley of the Dolls’, we look back at the soapy drama and assess the legacy of Sharon Tate. Plus: Kitty Green, director of documentary ‘Casting JonBenet’, reflects on our cultural obsession with true crime.
The selection at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival suggests that 2017’s festival season is likely to be dominated by political films. We take a look at the titles that are capturing attention with ‘New Republic’ magazine’s Alex Shephard. Plus: the new documentary recalling the incredible life of actress-turned-inventor Hedy Lamarr and director Katel Quillévéré discusses her new film ‘Heal the Living’.
Tom of Finland is one of the world’s most prolific erotic artists. We speak to film-maker Dome Karukoski about his new film recalling the difficult private life of the man behind the moniker, Touko Laaksonen. Plus: Un Certain Regard winner Juho Kuosmanen on his new film ‘The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Maki’ and why Hollywood is heading to Europe for blockbuster musical scores.
Why do so many grand old theatres fall into disrepair? ‘ArchDaily’ editor James Taylor-Foster and architects Jason Flanagan and Takero Shimazaki share the secrets to gently updating a picture palace for the modern age.
Director Raoul Peck draws upon the original text of James Baldwin to create the sensational Oscar-nominated documentary ‘I Am Not Your Negro’. In this special extended interview, Ben Rylan discusses the film with Peck while examining Baldwin’s extraordinary words.
After a string of failed reboots and remakes Paramount Pictures has a new CEO. But while March’s box-office returns hit a billion-dollar all-time record, some studio bosses are questioning whether audience appetites for franchise films are fading. We assess the evidence. Plus: a lesson in film criticism from David Stratton and a tribute to no one’s favourite superhero, Condorman.
A special screening at the Barbican in London aims to present the great French film-maker Henri-Georges Clouzot’s unfinished film ‘The Inferno’ as it might have been; we speak to its director, Serge Bromberg. Plus: Vienna’s unluckiest address and how Brazil’s ‘Aquarius’ director Kleber Mendonça Filho became a reluctant but popular political symbol.
Kelly Reichardt’s new film ‘Certain Women’ stars Michelle Williams, Kristen Stewart and Laura Dern in the story of three women forging their own paths in small-town America. The director discusses her life and career with Ben Rylan.
Olivier Assayas, last year’s winner of the Best Director award at Cannes, discusses his spooky new genre-defying film ‘Personal Shopper’ and Kristen Stewart’s high-fashion wardrobe. Plus: a look back at one of Assayas’ favourite ghost stories, 1961’s ‘The Innocents’.
Since Rodrigo Duterte came to power in the Philippines many people have voiced alarm at the impact of his leadership, including some from the nation’s arts scene. Recorded at the Regent Street Cinema in London we present a special Q&A with Filipino “slow cinema” filmmaker Lav Diaz.
Isabelle Huppert’s Oscar-nominated performance in “Elle” is stunning but what can we make of the sexual politics at play? We ask film critic Tara Judah. Plus: bizarre Freudian psychosexual drama ‘The Love Witch’ and an analysis of the films of Paul Verhoeven.
Michael Fassbender’s new film takes us inside the family dynamic in a true-crime story. In this bonus edition of ‘The Cinema Show’ director Adam Smith explains his approach to the story.
Has the success of ‘Moonlight’ altered the way that we see sex on screen? We ask two curators of London’s BFI Flare. Plus: the censoring of Mae West, a visit to Vienna’s Film Museum and the secrets of programming a film festival.
We look at the sensational ‘Moonlight’ and its creators Barry Jenkins and Tarrell Alvin McCraney. Plus: Xavier Dolan discusses his latest film ‘It’s Only the End of the World’ and we examine the colourful dreams of Italian horror auteur, Dario Argento.
Sergeant Jeffrey Pugliese found himself face to face with one of the Boston Marathon bombers during a police operation following the attack. He recalls his story as depicted in the new film ‘Patriot's Day’, in which he’s played by actor JK Simmons.
We’re in Berlin for one of Europe’s most celebrated film festivals. Kitty Green discusses her new documentary ‘Casting JonBenet’, which cleverly sets itself apart from the flurry of tabloid archival retreads of the US child-murder case. Plus: new films from Bruce LaBruce, Cate Shortland and Stanley Tucci.
Mike Mills explains how he spun recollections from his childhood into his new film, ‘20th Century Women’, starring Annette Bening. Plus: ‘Thumbsucker’ author Walter Kirn and we write a letter of appreciation to Ferris Bueller’s sidelined sister.
‘New Republic’ magazine’s Tim Grierson discusses the politically charged finale of this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Plus: how clever marketing made some people think ‘The Blair Witch Project’ was real, the new German comedy ‘Toni Erdmann’ and a look at the 1944 film that coined the term “gaslighting”.
Among the films playing at this year’s Sundance Film Festival is the documentary ‘Nobody Speak’, which examines the fall of Gawker and Donald Trump’s effect on the media; we’ve got a preview. Plus: an apocalyptic horror featuring an all-deaf cast, the luxury brands competing to stamp their name on the festival and a tribute to Mary Tyler Moore.
In the year preceding the death of US president John F Kennedy, two political films offered a starkly different view of Washington. In this special bonus episode we look at 1962’s ‘Advise & Consent’ and ‘The Manchurian Candidate’.
A year before the US lost its president in 1963, Hollywood lost its most famous film star. We discuss Natalie Portman’s new film ‘Jackie’ and bestselling author Dana Thomas reflects on a decade of Marilyn, JFK and Jackie.
A record win for ‘La La Land’, a political protest and an angry rebuke from the soon-to-be president: this year’s Golden Globes was certainly memorable. Plus: The White House apology letter that probably won’t actually be written, a word from film-maker Eugène Green and standing on the famed ‘Evita’ balcony in Buenos Aires.
Join us on a global tour to some of the world’s most fascinating film locations. We visit an exhibition in San Francisco celebrating the artist Bruce Conner, stroll the beaches of Mar de Plata in Argentina, speak to Czech film-maker and Berlin Film Festival favourite Petr Vaclav and hear from two stars of London’s Russian Film Week.
We discuss our favourite titles of 2016 and the film-makers to watch out for in the new year. Plus: the year’s most fascinating film identities, including Xavier Dolan, Ken Loach, Todd Solondz, Ben Wheatley and Peter Greenaway.
Monocle’s editors and correspondents share their favourite cinematic picks for the festive season. Plus: Christmas at some of the world’s most spectacular cinemas and a look back at some bizarre Christmas specials.
Artist Lucy Raven discusses her curation of films at London’s Serpentine Gallery, including the strange and disturbing 1932 Betty Boop short ‘Minnie the Moocher’. Plus: why ‘Meet me in St Louis’ is the quintessential Christmas movie and our gift guide for film-lovers.
In celebration of Kirk Douglas’s 100th birthday, we look back at his first screen role in the 1946 noir melodrama ‘The Strange Love of Martha Ivers’.
Soaring above the peaks of Mongolia on the back of a golden eagle, director Otto Bell discusses his stunning new documentary ‘The Eagle Huntress’. Plus: Christopher Laverty on his book chronicling the role of clothing in cinema and we admire the new colour-in ‘Star Wars’ cover from ‘Little White Lies’.
The actions of Edward Snowden have led to a shift in global attitudes towards privacy under the watchful eyes of government in the digital age. But is he a hero? As Oliver Stone’s new film hits UK theatres, Ben Rylan chats to Luke Harding, journalist for ‘The Guardian’ and author of the book upon which Stone’s film is partly based.
In recognition of World Aids Day we look back at the people and films that have shaped LGBT history on the screen with writer Benjamin Law, Harvey Milk’s nephew Stuart, actress and author Magda Szubanski, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of ‘The Imitation Game’ Graham Moore, and LA nightclub pioneer Jewel Thais-Williams.
In this special bite-sized edition, Ben Rylan discusses the horrific crime committed by Olga Hepnarová in 1970s Prague and the new film chronicling the event with actress Michalina Olszanska and co-director Tomás Weinreb.
Join us on an expedition exploring the sights and sounds of world cinema. We touch down at the Cairo International Film Festival, visit the home of Austrian film-making, pop into the Cine Dore picture palace in Madrid and take a walk through the London of the movies.
‘Bleed for This’ director Ben Younger began his career as a successful political-campaign manager before something inspired a change of direction. We find out what it was. Plus: how to crowdfund a film’s preservation and what happens when politics, media and the movies collide.
Canadian film-maker Xavier Dolan is a prodigy. At age 16 he wrote his first feature film that took him all the way to Cannes. As he completes work on his seventh film, he tells Ben Rylan about his impatience with cruel reviews and why his latest film, “It’s Only the End of the World”, is his favourite work to date.
We explore the great city of Los Angeles old and new with Tom Ford’s production designer of ‘Nocturnal Animals’, Shane Valentino. Plus: a walking tour past the houses of Hollywood Hills and revisiting a classic Hollywood nightspot, the Cocoanut Grove.
As the production designer of Tom Ford’s new film ‘Nocturnal Animals’, Shane Valentino crafted two very different but equally nightmarish worlds. Here he tells Ben Rylan how our surroundings shape our moods.
Recorded at the Grossmünster church in Zürich, we spend Halloween with South Korean film-maker Park Chan-wook, discussing his new erotic thriller ‘The Handmaiden’. Plus: a visit to an abandoned amusement park, the works of Edgar Allan Poe and investigating a haunting at Melbourne’s Astor Theatre.
British film-maker Ken Loach and screenwriter Paul Laverty discuss their Palme d'Or winner ‘I, Daniel Blake’. Plus: Christopher Guest, the man behind ‘This is Spinal Tap’ and ‘Best in Show’, returns with his new film ‘Mascots’.
From 1984’s ‘This is Spinal Tap’ to 2000’s ‘Best in Show’, Christopher Guest is the driving force behind some of cinema’s most awkwardly accurate comedies. His latest film follows the bizarre journey of a group of mascots. In this preview Monocle’s Tom Hall asks the film-maker how the ‘mockumentary’ approach alters the production process.
Two-time Palme d'Or winners the Dardenne brothers discuss their response to the surprisingly negative reaction to their latest film. Plus: Oscar winner Eva Orner explains how her new documentary caught the attention of Australia’s border force and we talk to one of the stars of the famously awful film ‘The Room’.
Belgian film-makers the Dardenne brothers are members of a very exclusive club: they’ve won Cannes’ Palme d’Or twice. In this special preview Ben Rylan sits down with the duo to discuss the slightly negative reaction to their latest film and their unexpected response.
With the politically charged opening-night film ‘A United Kingdom’, national identity and racial politics are impossible to miss at the 60th London Film Festival. Ben Rylan reviews our selection of not-to-be-missed titles with film critic Tara Judah. Plus: a visit to the Borsalino hat workshop in Milan.
Are film-makers and audiences afraid of taking risks? We ask Elliot Grove, founder of the Raindance Film Festival. We also recall a US president who was never far from the nuclear codes and take a look at pre-fame James Dean. Plus: former TV talk-show host Sally Jessy Raphael tells us about the last time she spoke to Audrey Hepburn.
Actor and writer Simon Callow discusses the emergence of the gay-best-friend character and how it has promoted diversity on screen. Plus: film-maker Rachel Lang on the role of Strasbourg’s architecture in her feature debut ‘Baden Baden’, a recap of Rome’s Live Cinema Festival and the blazing colours of Joan Crawford’s wardrobe as seen in 1954’s ‘Johnny Guitar’.
Former US Customs and Border Protection agent Robert Mazur recalls his undercover mission to expose Pablo Escobar’s money-laundering ring as portrayed by Bryan Cranston in new film ‘The Infiltrator’. Plus: the directors of new documentary ‘The Lovers and the Despot’ discuss the kidnapping of an actress and film director by North Korea and Australian journalist Leigh Sales dreams of walking away from TV and into a career in musicals.
Wim Wenders discusses modern film-making and his love for 3D in a special extended interview recorded at the Venice Film Festival. Plus: Davide Cazzaro, editor of Asian cinema magazine ‘Nang’, reflects on one of his favourite titles ‘The Big Durian’.
In this special musically themed episode we revisit a long-forgotten chapter from the original Oz books by L Frank Baum published in 1914. Plus: Matt Wolf, theatre critic for ‘The New York Times’, discusses how musicals leapt from stage to screen and remembers Gene Wilder.