Films for Today

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 Follow Us: https:...

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...

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...

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 F...

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, ca...

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 A...

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...

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...

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 Burt...

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)...

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...

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 Follow Us: https://www.faceboo...

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...

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 Follow Us: https://...

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 Ingma...

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 Follow Us: https://www.faceboo...

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 (19...

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 Ange...

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...

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) direct...