Films for Today

What might be the cause of international suffering? In this week's episode, we are joined by freelance film writer Christopher Smol to discuss the examinations of complicity, gentility and retrospective guilt in James Ivory's 1993 drama, The Remains of the Day . We also discuss: The Wind Rises (2013) d. Hayao Miyazaki Oppenheimer (2023) d. Christopher Nolan Contact Us E: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠contact@jimmybern...

How can wounded intergenerational bonds be healed? In this week's episode we are joined by writer-director Chloe Abrahams to discuss her new film, 'The Taste of Mango', which is being released to UK and Irish cinemas on 29 November 2024. Contact Us E: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠contact@jimmybernasconi.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/filmsfortoday/⁠⁠

How do you tell a true story? In this week's episode we are joined by co-editor of the new Australian documentary 'Like My Brother', Archie Chew, to discuss his approach to the film and documentary filmmaking more broadly. Contact Us E: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠contact@jimmybernasconi.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/filmsfortoday/⁠

How closely related are absurdism and realism? In this week's special episode, we chat with Kyle, Eli and Cole Thiele, the writers and directors of 'Sofa, So Good', a new absurdist comedy that explores the depths of existentialism by following two cousins carrying a couch across Dayton, Ohio. Contact Us E: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠contact@jimmybernasconi.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/filmsfortoday/⁠

What is the appeal of disassociation? Combining recent conversations about the irresistible appeal of media and the challenges that are inherent to revolution, this week's episode examines Todd Phillips' highly anticipated sequel to 'Joker', 'Joker: Folie à Deux'. We also briefly discuss: 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' (1975) d. Miloš Forman 'Pierrot le Fou' (1965) d. Jean-Luc Godard 'The Subst...

In this week's halloween special, we are joined by the man behind 'Too Much Film School', Matthew T. Price, to discuss John Carpenter's 1978 horror classic. In our discussion, we explore how the film's iconic antagonist resembles the indifference of evil and the utility of awareness in an increasingly distracted world. Contact Us E: ⁠⁠⁠⁠contact@jimmybernasconi.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram...

How should we understand overbearing mothers? In this week's special episode, we are joined by director Tumpal Tampubolon as we discuss the symbols and themes explored in his gripping new film, 'Crocodile Tears'. Contact Us E: ⁠⁠⁠contact@jimmybernasconi.com⁠⁠⁠ IG: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/filmsfortoday/⁠

What's the point of taking life seriously? Combining recent conversations about impulsive behaviours and monolithic purposes, this week's episode centres on Danny Boyle's 1996 slick crime drama, 'Trainspotting', to contemplate the downside of elevating pleasure to the highest priority. We also briefly discuss: 'Candy' (2006) d. Neil Armfield 'Requiem for a Dream' (2000) d. Darren Aronofsky Contact...

Should you respect the pain you feel? An official selection at this year's London Film Festival, Jesse Eisenberg's new film, 'A Real Pain', is at the centre of this week's discussion on the strange relationship between gaining perspective and building mental fortitude. We also discuss: Various buddy comedies 'Old Joy' (2006) d. Kelly Reichardt Contact Us E: ⁠⁠contact@jimmybernasconi.com⁠⁠ IG: ⁠⁠ht...

Are you sheltered from war?   Building on recent conversations about establishing, maintaining and protecting nations, this week's episode focuses on Jimmy T. Murakami's 1986 animated feature, 'When the Wind Blows', to highlight the stark separation between humble abiding citizens and macroscopic geopolitical activities.   We also briefly discuss: 'Barefoot Gen' (1983) d. Mori Masaki 'Grave of the...

What does it take to build a community?   Following last week's discussion about false idealism when establishing new societies, this week's episode examines Martin Rosen & John Hubley's 1978 animated classic, 'Watership Down', now restored in 4k.   We also discuss: 'Animal Farm' (1954) d. Joy Batchelor & John Halas 'The Lion King' (1994) d. Roger Allers & Rob Minkoff   Contact Us E: ⁠...

Is there one simple thing that would fix the world?    Building on recent discussions around monolithic goals and sympathising with emerging rivals, this week's episode examines Luchino Visconti's 'The Leopard' to consider the impermanence of permanence on both the political and personal level. We also briefly discuss: 'Tokyo Story' (1953) d. Yasujirō Ozu 'The Last Emperor' (1987) d. Bernardo Bert...

How should the established intelligentsia view the new guard?   Building on recent conversations about monolithic goals and sympathising with our rivals, this week's episode centres on how Miloš Forman's 'Amadeus' depicts the gatekeeping of emerging genius by the powerful elite.   We also briefly discuss: 'Sunset Boulevard' (1950) d. Billy Wilder 'All About Eve' (19...

Do you know how to be kind?   In this week's episode we examine Anthony Asquith's 'The Browning Version' to contemplate how people who rarely receive kindness (perhaps for good reason) respond to it when it is afforded to them.   We also discuss: 'About Schmidt' (2002) d. Alexander Payne 'Bad Santa' (2003) d. Terry Zwigoff 'The Holdovers' (2023) d. Alexander...

Should we base all of our decisions and actions around a single end goal?   In this week's episode we unpack the rich symbolism employed in Stanley Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey' to not only better understand the monolithic nature of AI, but humans and our teleological systems.    We also discuss: 'Alien: Romulus' (2024) d. Fede Alvarez 'Equilibrium' (2002) d. Ku...

Are you in love with the movies? In the first ever episode of 'Films for Today' we take a look at Woody Allen's 'The Purple Rose of Cairo' to contemplate both the shortcomings and utility of media addiction in hopes to better understand why we are drawn to the silver screen. We also briefly discuss: 'Cinema Paradiso' (1988) d. Giuseppe Tornatore 'Babylon' (2022)...

In this week's episode we bid farewell to Sacred Cinema and preview an exciting new program, also centred on the relationship between cinema and society. Be sure to keep 'following' Sacred Cinema for the time being, as it will be the home of our new show, 'Films for Today'! Email us at contact@jimmybernasconi.com

What does intimidation feel like? Can brave curiosity fully solve all of the problems that confront us? What should the meek integrate in order to overcome domineering threats? Following on nicely from related discussions last week, this week's episode examines three distinct cinematic depictions of profoundly overwhelming and colossal forces imposing upon female protagonists. Email us at cont...

To what extent should the budding feminine integrate the malevolent masculine? Should the feminine-masculine continuum be our sole consideration when seeking to individuate? What happens when the budding feminine is overly empowered by the malevolent masculine? With the release on 'Longlegs', this week's episode examines three films depicting inexperienced feminine FBI detectives.

How easy is it to examine adult performances? How fast can we slide into losing our dignity? Can we ever be fully accepting of debauchery? By focusing on films centred on adult entertainers, this week's episode contemplates the point at which performing for other begins to threaten our dignity. Email us at contact@jimmybernasconi.com

Can dreams be useful? Can we ever know when we're experiencing real life? Is there ever anything that can guide us when in a state of total confusion? Building on past episodes regarding the mind and simulations, this week's episode focuses specifically on dreams and what cinema can tell us about the limitlessness of our consciousness. Email us at contact@jimmybernasconi.com

How should we relate to past generations? To what extent should we embrace novelty? Is there a way to redeem ourselves without completely self-destructing? By focusing on films depicting the dynamic transformation of postwar Japan, this week's episode examines the nature of rapidly ascending societies. Email us at contact@jimmybernasconi.com

What is our primal nature? What does our primality imply in the grand scheme of things? What is the relative intelligence of our species? Focusing on films centring on images of primates, this week's episode contemplates the ways in which human primality has been explored onscreen. Email us at contact@jimmybernasconi.com

Is there more than one kind of treasure? Is theft ever acceptable? What happens when we view people as buried treasure? With the release of 'La Chimera', this week's episode looks at three cinematic depictions of prospecting and excavation to examine the inter-world inheritance of valuables. Email us at contact@jimmybernasconi.com

Should accessing a more confident version of ourself be conceived as a transformation? Is the identify and existence of our alter egos determined by our surroundings? Do we have access to a catalogue of distinct identities or a single self that evolves over time? With the release of Richard Linklater's new film 'Hit Man', this week's episode examines films in which a meek and mild...