Film Swap

What happens when filmmakers reach for the profound... and end up with a little piffle? In this episode of Film Swap, David and Jonathan are joined by special guest, genre film expert Richard Doyle to explore the curious world of Profound Piffle—films packed with big ideas, philosophical ambition and cosmic questions that occasionally tie themselves in knots along the way. The discussion centres o...

In this episode of Film Swap, we stare directly into the void with two haunting explorations of identity, escape, and existential drift: *The Passenger* (1975) directed by Michelangelo Antonioni and *Aniara* (2018) directed by Pella Kågerman and Hugo Lilja. We begin with Antonioni’s enigmatic road movie starring Jack Nicholson, unpacking themes of alienation, identity loss, emotional paralysis, an...

In this episode of Film Swap, we explore two unforgettable music documentaries:  Let’s Get Lost  (1988) and  Beware of Mr. Baker  (2012)—a fascinating double feature built around two legendary musicians who share a name, but couldn’t be more different. We dive into the haunting, dreamlike portrait of jazz icon Chet Baker in  Let’s Get Lost , directed by Bruce Weber. Shot in striking black and whit...

This time on Film Swap, we’re joined by David Blakeslee of the Criterion Reflections podcast to explore paranoia, power, and political corruption in two landmark works of European cinema. We begin with Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion (1970), directed by Elio Petri—a surreal, biting satire that examines how authority can warp the individual psyche. When a high-ranking police official com...

What happens when humanity is seen through alien eyes? In this episode of Film Swap, we are joined by special guest Jack Wyer as we explore the theme of the outsider perspective through Werner Herzog’s The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser (1974) and Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin (2013) starring Scarlet Johansson. One tells the story of a young man raised in total isolation and released into society. The...

In this episode of Film Swap, we explore the idea of “dropping out” through two very different but unexpectedly connected films: Nicholas Roeg’s Castaway (1986) and Matt Ross’s Captain Fantastic (2016). Both films centre on characters who reject modern life in favour of isolation, self-sufficiency, and alternative ways of living — but crucially, they take other people with them. Starting with Roeg...

It’s been a tough year, so the Film Swap podcast is doing what cinema does best — bringing people together. In this special  Feel Good Film Festival  episode, we’re joined by returning guests Brad McDermott and David Blakeslee to share four films that lift the spirits without ignoring the world. From classic Hollywood warmth and impeccably crafted mystery, to acts of radical generosity and a road...

Filmmaker Ken Williams joins us in this episode of Film Swap, as we tuck into two extraordinary food-centric films that explore how cooking brings people together: Juzo Itami’s joyful ramen romp Tampopo and Michael Sarnoski’s soulful drama Pig , starring Nicolas Cage. We dig into the craft, care, and human connection at the heart of both stories — from Tampopo’s playful food adventures and ramen m...

On this episode of Film Swap, we dive headfirst into the wild world of Mondo cinema. We’re joined by special guest and genre film specialist Richard Doyle to explore two notorious shockumentaries that blur the line between documentary, exploitation, and cultural provocation. We begin with  The Killing of America  (1982), directed by  Sheldon Renan , a chilling and controversial chronicle of violen...

Music has the power to turn chaos into beauty — and few films prove that better than The Sea Wolf (1941, dir. Michael Curtiz)  and Hana-Bi (1997, dir. Takeshi Kitano).  In this episode of Film Swap , we’re joined by special guest William Remmers, director of New York’s Utopia Opera Company, to dive into the wild seas of Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s lush orchestral drama and the quiet intensity of Joe...

In this episode of  Film Swap , David and Jonathan are joined by returning guest  Clare Clark  for a lively deep dive into  Hawks and Heroes . What happens when you place Howard Hawks’ classic Western  Red River  (1948) alongside Marvel’s dazzling  Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse  (2018, directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman)? You get a conversation about the very meaning...

Summer brings heat, passion, and sometimes danger. In this episode of  Film Swap , Jonathan and David explore two radically different but equally unforgettable classics. 🔥  One Deadly Summer  (1983, dir. Jean Becker) – Isabelle Adjani delivers a tour-de-force in this slow-burn French thriller of desire, secrets, and revenge, set against the oppressive heat of a provincial town. 🌊  Summer with Mo...

In this searing double feature, we dive into two powerhouse classics from the 1950s that expose the dark side of influence. Under the banner of Charisma and Corruption, we explore Sweet Smell of Success (1957) and The Night of the Hunter (1955)—both directed by British filmmakers working in America, both unafraid to peel back the facade of charm to reveal something chilling underneath. We discuss...

In this episode of Film Swap, Jonathan and David dive into two riveting tales where nothing is quite as it seems. Under the theme "Trust and Treachery", they explore Nine Queens (2000), a razor-sharp Argentinian con artist thriller, and Before We Vanish (2017), a genre-bending Japanese alien invasion drama from master filmmaker Kiyoshi Kurosawa. From layered deception and moral ambiguity...

In this literary-themed episode of Film Swap, hosts David and Jonathan explore two of the most daring adaptations of classic fiction ever put to film. First up, Jan Švankmajer’s Alice (1988) reimagines Alice in Wonderland as a surreal, stop-motion odyssey filled with unsettling imagery, tactile textures, and psychological depth. Then, Luchino Visconti’s The Leopard (1963) takes us to 19th-century...

It’s time to go back to school, film style! In this episode we take a thoughtful dive into two powerful coming-of-age dramas set in the world of education and youth. First up is Ken Loach’s *Kes* (1969), a British classic that soars with quiet defiance and one unforgettable kestrel. Then we head to a Parisian classroom with Laurent Cantet’s *The Class* (2008), a Palme d’Or winner that blends docum...

In this episode of *Film Swap*, genre film guru Richard Doyle returns to the show as we deep dive into two cult classics by legendary film directors that have a reputation for being downright awful: Robert Altman’s *O.C. and Stiggs* (1987) and Sam Peckinpah’s *Convoy* (1978). Are these the director's worst turkeys or misunderstood diamonds in the rough? We explore Altman’s satirical take on th...

In this episode of **Film Swap**, we dive deep into two powerful films that explore aging, mortality, and human connection: **The Ballad of Narayama** (1983) directed by **Shohei Imamura**and **Venus** (2006) Directed by **Roger Michell**. These films offer poignant reflections on life's final stages and the complexities of desire, family, and dignity.  In *The Ballad of Narayama*, **Sumiko Sa...

In this episode we dive into the careers of the very best of great British actors, as we focus on two absolute legends of the silver screen: Charles Laughton and Michael Caine and pick a couple of obscure gems from their considerable filmography to discuss in depth.  From the classic charm of *Ruggles of Red Gap* to the captivating complexity of *The Honorary Consul*, we explore how these two acto...

In this thought-provoking episode of *Film Swap*, hosts David and Jonathan are joined by special guest David Blakeslee of the *Criterion Reflections* podcast for a deep dive into three powerful films that explore themes of faith, suffering, and redemption. The trio discusses Paul Schrader’s *First Reformed*, David Lynch’s *The Elephant Man*, and Roberto Rossellini’s *The Flowers of St. Francis*—ea...

Pack your suitcase and get ready to follow us on the ultimate cinematic adventure! In this episode, we explore two captivating films that delve into the world of fearless explorers and their encounters with uncharted territories: Bob Rafelson's Mountains of the Moon (1990) and Ciro Guerra's Embrace of the Serpent (2015). Mountains of the Moon recounts the epic 19th-century expedition of British ex...

In this episode we dive into two of the most bizarre and unforgettable films in cinema history: Noel Marshall's "Roar" (1981) and Nobuhiko Obayashi's legendary "House" (1977). Join us as we explore the chaotic and surreal worlds of these cult classics. From the real-life dangers behind the making of the manic Roar, featuring untrained wild animals, to the psychedelic an...

Join us for an in-depth discussion on the 'Artistic Impulse' as depicted in film, featuring special guest: artist and filmmaker Brad McDermott. We delve into two cinematic classics: Ed Harris' 'Pollock' and Andrei Tarkovsky's masterpiece 'Andrei Rublev.' Explore how these films depict the struggles and triumphs of artists as they navigate the complexities of their c...

In this compelling episode the Film Swap team meditate on the themes of societal wellbeing and individual struggles as portrayed in the critically acclaimed films "Crimson Gold" directed by Jafar Panahi and "Sorry We Missed You" by Ken Loach.  Explore how these cinematic masterpieces reflect on the harsh realities of economic hardship, mental health, and the quest for dignity....

Take a trip with us down memory lane with our special guest Actor/Musician George Coutsoudis as we dive into the enigmatic realms of memory and love. Join us as we dissect two cinematic masterpieces: Charlotte Well's profoundly moving "Aftersun" and Michel Gondry's inventive cult classic "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet. Explo...