The Film Exchange

Immediately after the Oscar ceremony, Branson and Matt share their live reactions to this year's winners in our premiere live episode!

We return for a special edition, delving into our favorite films of 2023. 

We wrap Season 1 by reflecting on our 56 episodes, our favorites, and how our opinions on some films may have evolved. As we prep to return for Season 2 in the fall, we invite you to please share any feedback or suggestions you may have. We're open to revising the format of the show. We want to hear from you! Thank you so much for coming along with us this past year. We hope to see you for Sea...

This week Branson picked Black Orpheus (1959) directed by Marcel Camus. It is a modern retelling of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, set against the backdrop of the vibrant Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro. The film follows the passionate love affair between Orpheu (Brent Mello), a talented streetcar conductor and musician, and Eurydice (Marpessa Dawn), a country girl who comes to the city seekin...

For Independence Day we revisit an American classic -- Hoop Dreams directed by Steve James. This documentary tells the captivating story of two African-American teenagers from Chicago, William Gates and Arthur Agee, who dream of becoming professional basketball players. The film follows them over a period of five years, capturing their struggles, triumphs, and the challenges they face both on and...

 V for Vendetta is a dystopian thriller set in a totalitarian Britain ruled by a fascist government. The story revolves around a masked freedom fighter known as "V" (Hugo Weaving) who seeks to ignite a revolution and overthrow the oppressive regime. Along the way, he encounters a young woman named Evey Hammond (Natalie Portman), and together, they uncover the truth about their society an...

We continue our celebration of Pride month by watching Sean Baker's Tangerine (2015)-- a film that follows the story of two transgender sex workers, Sin-Dee Rella (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) and Alexandra (Mya Taylor), as they navigate the streets of Los Angeles on Christmas Eve. When Sin-Dee discovers that her boyfriend has been cheating on her, she embarks on a wild and comical journey to find h...

We rewatch one of our favorites -- The Piano Teacher (2001) directed by Michael Haneke. It is based on a novel of the same name by Elfriede Jelinek. It is a psychological drama that follows the story of Erika Kohut, a strict and emotionally repressed piano teacher, brilliantly portrayed by Isabelle Huppert. Set in Vienna, the film delves into Erika's complex and disturbing relationship with he...

To kick off Pride month, we watch Stephen Frears' My Beautiful Laundrette (1985). The film tells the story of Omar (Gordon Warnecke), a young Pakistani man living in London, who dreams of transforming his uncle's run-down laundrette into a successful business. Along the way, he reconnects with Johnny (Daniel Day-Lewis), an old friend and former lover, who is now involved in right-wing politics. Th...

To celebrate our 50th episode, we watch Bad Luhrmann's debut film Strictly Ballroom ! Thank you to our listeners for your support and encouragement in reaching this milestone-- we plan to bring you lots of more episodes! Today's film explores the themes of tradition, individuality, and the power of expression. The film follows the journey of Scott Hastings (Paul Mercurio), a talented ballr...

We go back to the French New Wave film "La Collectioneuse" directed by Eric Rohmer. Released in 1967, the film tells the story of Adrien, a cynical art dealer and a young woman named Haydée. Adrien and his fiancée part on bad terms before she goes to work in London, leaving Adrien to stay at a villa near St Tropez with old friend Daniel. They discover that the villa's third occupant,...

Branson picked Sebastiane-- a 1976 film directed by Derek Jarman and Paul Humfress. All the dialogue is spoken in latin and tells the story of the martyrdom of St. Sebastian. Jarman depicts both earthly lust and spiritual yearning. Stripped of rank and exiled to a remote Sardinian outpost, Roman soldier and suspected Christian Sebastian (Leonardo Treviglio) becomes the object of his commanding off...

This episode was recorded in person in San Francisco, CA at The Archery. We discuss Fantastic Planet-- a 1973 French-Czech science fiction animation, Fantastic Planet directed by René Laloux. This film is a groundbreaking work of animation that explores themes of oppression, rebellion, and the struggle for freedom. It is set on the distant planet of Ygam, where a group of giant blue humanoid creat...

Matt’s pick is 45 Years—a 2015 British drama film that tells the story of a retired couple, Kate and Geoff Mercer (Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay), who are preparing to celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary. The celebration takes a sudden turn when Geoff receives news that the body of his former lover, who died in a hiking accident fifty years ago, has been found in Switzerland. This reve...

Today we revisit a seminal film in Matt's movie watching-- "Koyaanisqatsi," which means "life out of balance" in the Hopi language, is a visual masterpiece that showcases the relationship between humans, nature, and technology. Released in 1982, the film is known for its unique style of cinematography, featuring time-lapse photography, slow-motion footage, and aerial shots.

Branson selected one of our mutual favorites to discuss Cat People — a 1942 horror film directed by Jacques Tourneur that tells the story of a Serbian immigrant named Irena Dubrovna, who believes that she's descended from a race of people who turn into giant cats when they're sexually aroused. The film stars Simone Simon, Kent Smith, and Jane Randolph, and was produced by Val Lewton for RK...

Following Easter Sunday, we discuss Branson's pick-- Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ . Based on the novel by Nikos Kazantzakis and adapted by Paul Schrader, it is a 1988 film that explores the life and inner struggles of Jesus Christ played by Willem Dafoe. Shot on a tight budget in Morocco, the film depicts Jesus as a human with doubts, desires, and temptations. As Jesus g...

We watch the modern classic Toni Erdmann-- a critically acclaimed German comedy-drama directed by Maren Ade. The story revolves around the strained relationship between a workaholic corporate consultant, Ines, and her prankster father, Winfried, who decides to pay her an unexpected visit in Bucharest, Romania, where she works. To reconnect with his daughter, Winfried creates a bizarre alter ego na...

Today we discuss the 1985 Swedish drama adaptation of the semi-autobiographical novel of the same name by Reider Jönsson. It tells the coming of age story of Ingemar (Anton Glaanzelius), a young boy sent to live with extended relatives. In 1987 it was released in the United States where it became a surprise hit. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards including Best Director for Lasse Hallst...

We bring one of our mutual favorite films to the podcast -- Mike Leigh's masterpiece Naked (1993) starring David Thewlis. The story follows the journey of Johnny, a young man who leaves Manchester for London after assaulting a man. In the city, he engages in a series of sexual and intellectual encounters with various women while struggling with his own existential crisis. Throughout the film,...

This week we watch Chariots of Fire, a 1981 British historical sports drama film directed by Hugh Hudson, written by Colin Welland and produced by David Putnam. It is based on the true story of two British athletes in the 1925 Olympics— Eric Liddell (Ian Charleson), a devout Scottish Christian who runs for the glory of God, and Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross), an English Jew who runs to overcome preju...

Joins us as we celebrate awards season and give our predictions for this year's Oscars. Who do you think will win? 

To celebrate awards season and the Oscars, we are revisiting Best Picture Oscar winners from the past. We discuss Matt's Best Picture selection -- The Best Years of Our Lives. It is a 1946 drama directed by William Wyler. The movie follows three World War II veterans as they return home to their families and attempt to readjust to civilian life. The three men come from different backgrounds, and t...

Our topic this week is Matt's pick-- Defending Your Life . It is a 1991 comedy-drama directed by Albert Brooks. The film stars Meryl Streep as Julia and Albert Brooks as Daniel Miller, a Los Angeles advertising executive who dies and finds himself in a strange afterlife world where people must defend their lives before a celestial tribunal to determine if they are worthy of advancement to the next...

Branson's pick Dance, Girl, Dance is a 1940 American comedy-drama directed by Dorothy Arzner and starring Maureen O'Hara, Louis Hayward, Lucille Ball, and Ralph Bellamy. The film follows two dancers who strive to preserve their own integrity while fighting for their place in the spotlight and for the affections of a wealthy young suitor. The feminist movement of the late 60s and early 70s helped g...