Films for Today

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...

Is there virtue in taking the blame for something that isn't your totally fault? How easily can this slip into exploitation? Should we ever take on more burdens in an already unfair world? With the fairly release of 'The Fall Guy' this week's episode focuses on films in which a character takes the blame for something they didn't do, whether voluntarily or involuntarily. Email u...

What effect does vengeance have on feminine purity? Are avengers ever assaultive themselves? Is revenge the only response to injustice? With the release of 'Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga', this week's episode examines three films in which feminine characters are avenged. Contact us at contact@jimmybernasconi.com

What should we be cautious of when it comes to clingyness? Are there ever broader sociocultural elements at play when someone gets clingy? Is there ever a lot at stake when someone gets clingy? As the television program 'Baby Reindeer' continues to permeate the culture, this week's episode looks at three films depicting 'clingyness'. Email us at contact@jimmybernasconi.com

In what ways is privacy appealing? At what point does coolness verge into eccentricity? How is the avoidance of philosophical dogma paradoxical? In this week's episode we contemplate the extent to which privacy, as a symbol of pure independence, can assist in our search for truth. Email us at contact@jimmybernasconi.com

Can cheating be romantic? Is the fate of cheaters determined by justice or luck? Does cheating reveal anything useful about those it victimises? Building on previous episodes on infidelity, this week's episode looks at the borders, divides and connections that are illuminated in films about disloyal lovers. Email us at contact@jimmybernasconi.com

Is voyeurism of the violent a sickness? How might modern society encourage psychotic behaviour? What role might emotion play in the face of conflict? Following some related conversations in recent weeks, this week's episode focuses on three depictions of capturing violence on camera. Contact us at contact@jimmybernasconi.com

Can the thirst for the alternative devolve into chaos? Do we ever search too far inward for bohemian values? Is there an ideal time to depart from the unconventional? Building on a brief discussion from last week, this week's episode examines the curious reoccurrence of bohemian culture being explored on screen through 'triangular' character dynamics. Contact us at contact@jimmybernasc...

What is the fate of a once great empire after it has comprehensively fallen? How do we find our bearings in places filled with all walks of life? From where is modern political power sourced? In focusing on films set in Rome, this week's episode considers the history of Western civilisation and contemplates whether it is underpinned by any timeless values. Email us at contact@jimmybernasconi.c...

What happens in the aftermath of our misdeeds? Do we ever have a right to revenge? How can the interconnectedness of the powerless form the roots of revolution? Focusing on street-level vigilantes, this week's episode examines how the revenge tragedy has evolved in recent decades. Email us: contact@jimmybernasconi.com

What might a lack of closure make us do to ourselves? What might a lack of closure make us do to others? What are the dangers of a society floundering in an odyssey of aimlessness? Extending beyond a similar recent conversation about cinematic depictions of kidnappers, this week's episode focuses on the symbolism of missing people. Email us at contact@jimmybernasconi.com