Episodes
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If you are hearing this message, please go to herheadinfilms.simplecast.fm. I have changed my hosting provider from Podomatic to Simple Cast. Around April 1st, I will delete this feed and no new episodes will appear here. If you listen on iTunes, please subscribe to my new iTunes account. You can find it--and other ways of listening to the podcast--at herheadinfilms.simplecast.fm.Thank you! -
AFTER APRIL 1ST, THIS FEED WILL NO LONGER UPDATE WITH NEW EPISODES. I have changed my hosting site. If you subscribe via iTunes or Podomatic, please go to https://herheadinfilms.simplecast.fm/ to re-subscribe to my new iTunes feed. Thank you. What happens when cinema becomes an obsession? I explore that question and many more in this episode on Abbas Kiarostami's 1990 genre-blending film, "Close-Up." It revolves around the true story of Hossein Sabzian, a passionate cinephile who deceives a family by impersonating the director, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, and is charged with fraud in an Iranian court. All the people involved in the story play themselves in the film, but, at every turn, Kiarostami blends documentary and fiction and raises questions about the nature of truth and the construction of reality. Not only that, this film is an unforgettable portrait of a man willing to sacrifice everything for cinema.Subscribe to the Her Head in Films Newsletter to stay up-to-date about the podcast and to get exclusive content: https://mailchi.mp/cecae8692817/her-head-in-films-newsletterPlease consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. For as low as $1 per month, you can unlock exclusive patron-only content: https://www.patreon.com/herheadinfilmsFollow me on social media: https://www.facebook.com/herheadinfilms/ https://twitter.com/ekphora http://ekphora.tumblr.com -
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AFTER APRIL 1ST, THIS FEED WILL NO LONGER UPDATE WITH NEW EPISODES. I have changed my hosting site. If you subscribe via iTunes or Podomatic, please go to https://herheadinfilms.simplecast.fm/ to re-subscribe to my new iTunes feed. Thank you. In 1960, Michelangelo Antonioni released "L'avventura," a film that would make him world-famous and that would change cinema forever. Antonioni was crucial in elevating cinema to an art form and expanding the language of film by constructing a deeply visual style that would influence filmmakers for decades to come. In this episode, I talk about the mysterious power of "L'avventura," why it has haunted me for years, and why it matters so much.Subscribe to the Her Head in Films Newsletter to stay up-to-date about the podcast and to get exclusive content: https://mailchi.mp/cecae8692817/her-head-in-films-newsletterPlease consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. For as low as $1 per month, you can unlock exclusive patron-only content: https://www.patreon.com/herheadinfilmsFollow me on social media: https://www.facebook.com/herheadinfilms/ https://twitter.com/ekphora http://ekphora.tumblr.com -
In this episode, I talk about Agnès Varda's 1962 film "Cléo from 5 to 7." It's about a French pop singer who is waiting for test results that will confirm if she has cancer. This film was my introduction to Varda and got me interested in her unique and important body of work. I talk about time, loneliness, and mortality in "Cléo from 5 to 7". I also provide a brief overview of Varda's life and work.Listen on iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher.Subscribe to the Her Head in Films Newsletter to stay up-to-date about the podcast and to get exclusive content: https://mailchi.mp/cecae8692817/her-head-in-films-newsletterPlease consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. For as low as $1 per month, you can unlock exclusive patron-only content: https://www.patreon.com/herheadinfilmsFollow me on social media: https://www.facebook.com/herheadinfilms/ https://twitter.com/ekphora http://ekphora.tumblr.comThis episode sponsored by:https://www.robocup-press.com/Listen to my episode on Varda's 1985 film "Vagabond"https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/herheadinfilms/episodes/2017-07-30T05_00_00-07_00 -
In this episode, I explore all the many facets of Chris Marker's landmark and influential 1962 short film, "La Jetée." Told almost exclusively through black-and-white still photographs and set in a post-apocalyptic Paris, it tells the story of how the survivors of World War III harness the memory of one man who is haunted by a scene from his childhood. I talk about time, memory, grief, nostalgia, and so much more. This film is responsible for sparking my interest in European art house cinema.Listen on iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher.Subscribe to the Her Head in Films Newsletter to stay up-to-date about the podcast and to get exclusive content: https://mailchi.mp/cecae8692817/her-head-in-films-newsletterPlease consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. For as low as $1 per month, you can unlock exclusive patron-only content: https://www.patreon.com/herheadinfilmsFollow me on social media: https://www.facebook.com/herheadinfilms/ https://twitter.com/ekphora http://ekphora.tumblr.com/ -
I would not be a cinephile without Carl Theodor Dreyer's "The Passion of Joan of Arc." This silent film from 1928 awakened me to the power of cinema and changed my life forever. On this episode, I discuss the life and times of Joan of Arc, provide behind-the-scenes information about how the film was made, and offer my own analysis of the film itself and why it made such a monumental impact on me.Listen on iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher.Subscribe to the Her Head in Films Newsletter to stay up-to-date about the podcast and to get exclusive content: https://mailchi.mp/cecae8692817/her-head-in-films-newsletterPlease consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. For as low as $1 per month, you can unlock exclusive patron-only content: https://www.patreon.com/herheadinfilmsFollow me on social media: https://www.facebook.com/herheadinfilms/ https://twitter.com/ekphora http://ekphora.tumblr.com/ -
For thousands of years, stray cats have roamed the streets of Istanbul, becoming an integral part of the city. Ceyda Torun's extraordinary 2016 documentary, "Kedi," is not just a touching look at the cute and scrappy cats, it's also a beautiful portrait of the people of Istanbul who take care of them. Woven into my discussion of the film is my own experience of losing my beloved cat,Bella, in 2016. I talk about how she taught me to love and impacted my life in profound ways.Listen on iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher.Subscribe to the Her Head in Films Newsletter to stay up-to-date about the podcast and to get exclusive content: https://mailchi.mp/cecae8692817/her-head-in-films-newsletterPlease consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. For as low as $1 per month, you can unlock exclusive patron-only content: https://www.patreon.com/herheadinfilmsFollow me on social media:https://www.facebook.com/herheadinfilms/https://twitter.com/ekphorahttp://ekphora.tumblr.com/ -
For the 50th episode of the podcast, I answer listener questions! Thank you to all who listen. I am so grateful to have this outlet for all my thoughts and feelings about cinema. In this episode, you'll learn what films I think are overrated, what I think are some underrated films, what film I'd add to the Criterion Collection, and much more!Listen on iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher.Subscribe to the Her Head in Films Newsletter to stay up-to-date about the podcast and to get exclusive content: https://mailchi.mp/cecae8692817/her-head-in-films-newsletterPlease consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. For as low as $1 per month, you can unlock exclusive patron-only content: https://www.patreon.com/herheadinfilmsKeep the conversation going on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/herheadinfilms/Follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/ekphoraFollow me on Tumblr http://ekphora.tumblr.com/ -
I saw 'Dead Poets Society' for the first time when I was a teenager. It was a revelatory film for me because of the way it celebrated the power of literature and poetry. In this episode, I talk about why the film means so much to me. I also provide behind-the-scenes information about the making of the film and even discuss criticisms that it has received over the years.Articles and videos cited in this episodeTurner Classic Movies article on the film:http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/21727%7C0/Dead-Poets-Society.htmlMental Floss list of 15 facts about the film:http://mentalfloss.com/article/59232/15-facts-about-dead-poets-society)Josh Charlies interview with Entertainment Weekly:http://ew.com/article/2014/07/03/dead-poets-society-josh-charlesHalf-hour documentary featuring interviews with the actors from the film. Made around a decade after the film was released:https://youtu.be/5zm8Byw52dQCritique of the film by Roger Ebert:https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/dead-poets-society-1989Critique of the film by Kevin J.H. Dettmar:http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2014/02/-em-dead-poets-society-em-is-a-terrible-defense-of-the-humanities/283853/Listen on iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher.Subscribe to the Her Head in Films Newsletter to stay up-to-date about the podcast and to get exclusive content: https://mailchi.mp/cecae8692817/her-head-in-films-newsletterPlease consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. For as low as $1 per month, you can unlock exclusive patron-only content: https://www.patreon.com/herheadinfilmsKeep the conversation going on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/herheadinfilms/Follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/ekphoraFollow me on Tumblr http://ekphora.tumblr.com/ -
Larisa Shepitko is one of the greatest directors that many people have never heard of. In this episode, I seek to change that. I talk about two of her greatest films: "Wings" (1966) and "The Ascent" (1977). Shepitko died early in 1979 in a car accident at the age of 41. In her brief life, she created films that were concerned with the individual psychology of her characters and in raising moral and spiritual questions for her audience. She was married to fellow director, Elem Klimov, who made a short film about her after she died. It's called "Larisa," and I also talk about it.Warning: this episode contains spoilers."Wings" is about a Soviet woman who fought in the Second World War and who struggles to adjust to her more mundane life after the war. She is also haunted by the lover she lost in the war. The film explores themes of nostalgia, loss, and aching."The Ascent" is about two partisans--Sotnikov and Rybak--who are captured by the Nazis in Belarus during the Second World War. Sotnikov refuses to collaborate with the Nazis, while Rybak does collaborate. The film examines the complex moral issues of the war and extends sympathy and respect to all the characters.Sources for biographical information on Shepitko:Tablet Magazine article http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-arts-and-culture/175629/discovering-the-ascentThe Guardian article https://www.theguardian.com/film/2005/jan/10/russiaSenses of Cinema article http://sensesofcinema.com/2017/soviet-cinema/1977-ascent-larisa-shepitko/Watch Elem Klimov's 1980 film, "Larisa":https://vimeo.com/49976137Select quotes taken from Svetlana Alexievich's "The Unwomanly Face of War: An Oral History of Women in World War II"https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/540744/the-unwomanly-face-of-war-by-svetlana-alexievich/9780399588723/Listen on iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher.Subscribe to the Her Head in Films Newsletter to stay up-to-date about the podcast and to get exclusive content: https://mailchi.mp/cecae8692817/her-head-in-films-newsletterPlease consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. For as low as $1 per month, you can unlock exclusive patron-only content: https://www.patreon.com/herheadinfilmsKeep the conversation going on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/herheadinfilms/Follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/ekphoraFollow me on Tumblr http://ekphora.tumblr.com/ -
In this episode, I talk about Luca Guadagnino's 2017 film "Call Me By Your Name." In 2017, I read Andre Aciman's book by the same title in one sitting. I was consumed by the story of 17-year-old Elio and 24-year-old Oliver who fall in love one summer in Italy in 1983. The film is beautiful, and I loved it. This episode was recorded immediately after I finished the film because I wanted to capture all my thoughts and feelings in that moment of afterglow and elation. I talk about many things, including the sensuality of the film, why I connect to Elio, why I'm moved by Elio's relationship with his father, and much more.Note: Spoilers abound!Listen on iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher.Subscribe to the Her Head in Films Newsletter to stay up-to-date about the podcast and to get exclusive content: https://mailchi.mp/cecae8692817/her-head-in-films-newsletterPlease consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. For as low as $1 per month, you can unlock exclusive patron-only content: https://www.patreon.com/herheadinfilmsKeep the conversation going on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/herheadinfilms/Follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/ekphoraFollow me on Tumblr http://ekphora.tumblr.com/ -
For the final episode of 2017, I thought it would be interesting to spotlight three television shows that I loved over the year--The Keepers, Big Little Lies, and the final season of Broadchurch--and how they address violence against women, toxic masculinity, and patriarchy. Trigger warning for discussion of sexual violence. Spoiler alert for discussion of certain details in each show, though I do not talk about the final scene of Big Little Lies, and I don't reveal the perpetrator on Season 3 of Broadchurch. I do discuss details of Season 1 and 2 of Broadchurch.Listen on iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher.Subscribe to the Her Head in Films Newsletter to stay up-to-date about the podcast and to get exclusive content: https://mailchi.mp/cecae8692817/her-head-in-films-newsletterPlease consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. For as low as $1 per month, you can unlock exclusive patron-only content: https://www.patreon.com/herheadinfilmsKeep the conversation going on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/herheadinfilms/Follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/ekphoraFollow me on Tumblr http://ekphora.tumblr.com/ -
On December 8, 2017 the Her Head in Films podcast officially turned a year old! This is a major milestone. Over the past year, I've brought you over 40 episodes about a wide range of films from all over the world. I've shared my personal experiences. I've shared my passion for cinema. This podcast has changed my life. It's helped me find my voice and to feel like my voice matters. In this episode, I reflect on the past year and why the podcast matters to me. Above all, I thank each and every one of you who have listened to Her Head in Films. I'm so grateful for your support. Here's to another year of great cinema!Listen on iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher.Subscribe to the Her Head in Films Newsletter to stay up-to-date about the podcast and to get exclusive content:https://mailchi.mp/cecae8692817/her-head-in-films-newsletterPlease consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. For as low as $1 per month, you can unlock exclusive patron-only content: https://www.patreon.com/herheadinfilmsKeep the conversation going on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/herheadinfilms/Follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/ekphoraFollow me on Tumblr http://ekphora.tumblr.com/ -
In this episode, I talk about Elem Klimov's monumental 1985 Soviet film, "Come and See," which follows a young man named Florya who witnesses atrocities and violence that happen in Nazi-occupied Belarus in 1943. The film is both personal and historical. Klimov himself experienced the Second World War as a child in Stalingrad. He was forever scarred by what he witnessed. Together with writer, Ales Adamovich, Klimov wrote the script for "Come and See" and based it on real-life testimonies. Over 600 villages were destroyed by the Nazis in Belarus during the Second World War. In the end, around 2 million people in Belarus lost their lives during the war. This film bears witness to their suffering and it's also a searing representation of the horror of war. Klimov resists glorifying violence. Instead, he shows us the sickening and frightening reality of what war is and what it does to human lives. While the film is graphic, it is also restrained, often only showing us things from afar, like a glimpse of a pile of dead bodies or the sounds of people burning in a building. I discuss how I think this is one of the most important films about war and atrocity ever made and how a film like this can awaken our sense of morality and truly transform the viewer.Several quotes by Klimov are taken from this three-part interview:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN9_r1NEnGMI also quote from Svetlana Alexievich's "The Unwomanly Face of War"https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/540744/the-unwomanly-face-of-war-by-svetlana-alexievich/9780399588723/Listen on iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher.Please consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. For as low as $1 per month, you can unlock exclusive patron-only content: https://www.patreon.com/herheadinfilmsKeep the conversation going on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/herheadinfilms/Follow me on Tumblr http://ekphora.tumblr.com/ -
In this episode, I talk about two powerful documentaries from the Montreal International Documentary Festival. The first film is Tasha Hubbard's "Birth of a Family," which is about four siblings--Betty Ann, Ben, Esther, and Rosalie--who meet for the first time, 50 years after they were taken away from their mother, Mary Jane, during the Sixties Scoop in Canada. The Sixties Scoop was a program that took First Nations children and put them in foster care or with white families. "Birth of a Family" explores how the four siblings cope with the past and create a new future together.The second film is Kalina Bertin's "Manic," a personal film that explores both the complicated life of Bertin's father and the struggles of her siblings, Felicia and Sean, who have manic depression. Bertin's film is a raw and unflinching look at mental illness and how the ghosts of the past haunt the present.Listen on iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher.Please consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. For as low as $1 per month, you can unlock exclusive patron-only content: https://www.patreon.com/herheadinfilmsMore on Festival Scope:https://www.festivalscope.com/all/Keep the conversation going on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/herheadinfilms/Follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/ekphoraFollow me on Tumblr http://ekphora.tumblr.com/ -
In this episode, I talk about Ettore Scola's 1977 film, "A Special Day," starring Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni in some of the most raw performances of their careers. The film takes place in 1938 on an important day when Hitler visits Mussolini in Rome. While much of the city attends parades and festivities to celebrate the meeting, two people remain in their apartments: Antonietta (Loren), a working class housewife who believes in fascist ideals; and Gabriele (Mastroianni), a former radio announcer, antifacscist, and gay man. On this day in 1938, Antonietta and Gabriele--two people from vastly different backgrounds, holding profoundly different political beliefs--will meet and find connection. In this episode, I weave together a discussion of the film with my thoughts on the one-year anniversary of the election of Donald Trump, exploring how right-wing extremism and fascism have been on the rise here in the United States. "A Special Day" has much to show us about gender, sexuality, masculinity, political divisions, and human connection. It also has much to tell us not just about Italy in 1938 but the United States in 2017 and beyond.Listen on iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher.Please consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. For as low as $1 per month, you can unlock exclusive patron-only content: https://www.patreon.com/herheadinfilmsKeep the conversation going on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/herheadinfilms/Follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/ekphoraFollow me on Tumblr http://ekphora.tumblr.com/ -
Released in 2001, Le Stade de Wimbledon (The Wimbledon Stage) is French actor Mathieu Amalric's second feature film, and it stars his ex-wife, the brilliant Jeanne Balibar. It is based on the Italian novel, Lo stadio di Wimbledon by Daniele Del Giudice. In Trieste, Italy a woman searches for information about Bobby Volher, a writer who never wrote a book. She wants to know why someone with so much talent did not seek out publication. The film never really answers this question but that's not the point. The film wants to raise questions, it wants to meander and explore and investigate; it revels in the search itself and asks us to consider what we might discover along the way. For me, this film is so beguiling because it's interested in the meaning and mystery of writing itself. Why do we write? For ourselves? For others? For fame and publication? And what do we make of writers who had little interest in being published, like Emily Dickinson? I explore all this and more in this episode.Listen on iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher.Please consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. For as low as $1 per month, you can unlock exclusive patron-only content: https://www.patreon.com/herheadinfilmsKeep the conversation going on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/herheadinfilms/Follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/ekphoraFollow me on Tumblr http://ekphora.tumblr.com/ -
In this episode, I talk about Nicolas Roeg's 1973 psychological horror film, "Don't Look Now." It's about John and Laura Baxter, a British couple who have recently lost their young daughter, Christine, and are living in Venice, Italy when they meet two sisters, one of which is psychic and says she can see and communicate with Christine. The film is based on the Daphne du Maurier short story of the same name. I explore many things in this episode, including the horror of loss and the human longing to know what happens after a loved one dies. At the beginning of the episode, I also discuss the sexual assault and harassment allegations against Harvey Weinstein and other men in Hollywood. I question if there will be institutional, systemic change.Listen on iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher.Please consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. For as low as $1 per month, you can unlock exclusive patron-only content: https://www.patreon.com/herheadinfilmsKeep the conversation going on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/herheadinfilms/Follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/ekphoraFollow me on Tumblr http://ekphora.tumblr.com/ -
It's the most ghoulish time of the year now that Halloween is here. In this episode, I explore Herk Harvey's 1962 cult horror classic "Carnival of Souls." The film tells the story of Mary Henry, a church organist who survives a car crash and is menaced by a zombie-like man. What makes "Carnival of Souls" so powerful and unforgettable for me is its narrative ambiguity, its complex portrait of Mary, and its exploration of loneliness, alienation, disconnection, and trauma.Listen on iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher.Please consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. For as low as $1 per month, you can unlock exclusive patron-only content: https://www.patreon.com/herheadinfilmsKeep the conversation going on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/herheadinfilms/Follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/ekphoraFollow me on Tumblr http://ekphora.tumblr.com/ -
In this episode, I talk about Agnieszka Holland's beloved 1993 children's film "The Secret Garden," which tells the story of Mary Lennox, a 10-year-old girl orphaned after her parents die in an earthquake in India. She is sent to England to live with her uncle, Lord Craven, and discovers a secret garden on his estate. I discuss not only the film itself and its themes of love, connection, friendship, and regeneration, but I also explore what it means to re-watch films from your childhood and how that can be both a valuable and emotional experience.Listen on iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher.Please consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. For as low as $1 per month, you can unlock exclusive patron-only content: https://www.patreon.com/herheadinfilmsKeep the conversation going on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/herheadinfilms/Follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/ekphoraFollow me on Tumblr http://ekphora.tumblr.com/ - Show more
