Films for Today

Does cheating always catch up on us? Who is destined to stray from their spouse? How can we overcome unfaithfulness? Through the lens of romantic infidelity, this week's episode explores the ways in which our faith in one another can be tested and strengthened. Get in touch: https://www.instagram.com/jimmy_bernasconi/?hl=en

Can talent be a curse? To what extent does talent serve the talented? How and when should we wield our talents? It's a Bette Davis double this week, as we explore the darker side of being gifted. Keep in touch: https://www.facebook.com/sacredcinema https://www.instagram.com/jimmy_bernasconi/?hl=en

What are the dangers of media spectacles? Are all news stories merely spectacles? Is there a healthy way to consume corporate media? In light of some seemingly opposing ideas from two recent films, this week's episode contemplates the dangers of modern media consumption.  Get in touch: https://www.facebook.com/sacredcinema https://www.instagram.com/jimmy_bernasconi/?hl=en 

What are some of the lingering issues in modern Middle Eastern cultures? What is the continuing relationship between political and personal emancipation in the Middle Eastern context? What cultural characteristics do gross acts of violence illuminate?  In this week's episode, Jimmy is joined by special guest Sarah Barrie, who has studied, worked in and travelled extensively throughout the Mid...

How does the state treat those who rebel against it? How should we view an oppressive state? What are we actually referring to when we talk about 'the state'? In discussing three films that centre on the relationship between 'rebellious' individuals and the institutions that govern them, this week's episode questions the various attitudes we have toward those in power. The Films: 'Cool Hand Luke'...

How do we view ourselves in relation to others? Are people ever the same? What does the meaning of life cost? In exploring some of the bigger philosophical questions we all face, this week's episode focuses on the curiously common cross-over of stop motion and existential cinema.  The Films: 'Anomalisa' (2015) directed by Duke Johnson and Charlie Kaufman 'Harvie Krumpet' (2003) directed by Ad...

How does it feel to be inundated with unwelcome stress? How can our own actions contribute to stress? Can stress ever be desirable? This week's episode focuses on three high-tempo films in which the titular protagonists are relentlessly burdened by various sources of stress. The Films: 'After Hours' (1985) directed by Martin Scorsese 'Uncut Gems' (2019) directed by Josh Safdie and Benny Safdie 'Fu...

How do false images of faraway lands affect us? What is the relationship between our choices and the world around us? What impact has modernisation had on interhuman connectivity? In another special guest(s) episode, Jimmy sits down with Benson Wu, Helen Stenbeck and Yi-Tsun Chen from the 2022 Taiwanese Film Festival to chat about the ongoing transformations in Taiwan and its film industry and wha...

What can the vicious act of murder teach us about strategy and logic? What does the act of play uncover in the face of mystery? Are we more attentive to truth when we find it ourselves? In this week's special episode, Jimmy sits down with French director Nicolas Pleskof to chat about his new film, 'Murder Party', and the intersection of games and murder. Follow Us: https://www.facebook.com/sacredc...

How should we view 'lowbrow' art? How should we approach conflicting views on artistic value? Is it useful for people to have differences in taste? Drawing on a number of themes raised in recent weeks, this week's episode challenges the highbrow/lowbrow dichotomy by examining cinematic depictions of filmmaking, architecture and archeology.  The Films: 'Sullivan's Travels' (1941) directed by P...

What is the essence of brotherhood? What does true brotherhood feel like? What is required to find our brothers? Focusing on three modern American cinematic odysseys, this week's episode examines the long and adventurous journeys upon which we embark in finding and embracing our fellow man. The Films: 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' (2000) directed by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen 'About Schmidt' (2002) d...

How does it feel to suffer at the hands of our predecessors? Should we dispose of everything tainted by past mistakes? How can we view the burdens we inherit constructively? This week's episode examines three cinematic personifications of the past in order to unpack a key aspect of the eternal tension between conservatism and progressivism The Films: 'Hereditary' (2018) directed by Ari Aster ...

What are the dangers of indecisiveness? What are the dangers of self-discipline? What is the relationship between self-improvement and community? Following on from last week's discussion about the line between sacrifice and suicide, this week's episode looks at three cinematic depictions of jazz to distinguish self-discipline from self-destruction.  The Films: 'Cold War' (2018) directed by Pa...

What does it take to abandon a toxic relationship? How do we endure through a lifetime of betrayal? Who is ultimately burdened with the responsibility of emancipating us from imprisoning relationships? Exploring the inverse of a number of themes covered over the past few weeks, this week's episode focuses on three romantically unfulfilled female protagonists confronting the fallout of severed rela...

How should outsiders behave in new and confronting circumstances? What happens when we follow the dominant mob? What is at the core of societal tension? Following on from discussions about the darker sides of masculinity, this week's episode focuses on a sub-genre of films from the early seventies that explored the friction between outsiders and communities with established traditions.  The F...

From where does the killer instinct come? Should the state have the power to enact violence? When, if ever, is violence morally justifiable? Following on from recent episodes, in which we have explored confrontational and destructive societal tendencies, this week's episode further examines the nullification of those we despise. The Films: ' Snowtown' (2011) directed by Justin Kurzel  'Killer...

What is the relationship between injustice and destruction? Can we apprehend imminent destruction? What happens when we completely abandon the feminine? In light of recent events, this week's episode focuses on the potentially dangerous traits of the typical male psyche. The Films: Taxi Driver (1976) directed by Martin Scorsese La Haine (1995) directed by Mathieu Kassovitz This Sporting Life (1963...

Can we actually eliminate our enemies? How can we reconcile our differences? Where should we look for our enemies? Expanding our conversations into the romantic, political and personal realms, this week's episode contemplates the ways in which we should deal with those we oppose.  The Films: Dial M for Murder (1954) directed by Alfred Hitchcock Zulu (1964) directed by Cy Endfield Suspiria (19...

Do humans have the capacity to prophesy and preach truth? How do we identify false prophets? How adept are we at knowing when we are under someone's spell? Following recent episodes about the nature of cultural leaders, this episode focuses on the processes that underpin deceitful leadership. The Films: La Ricotta (1962) directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini The Night of the Hunter (1955) directed by Ch...

How powerful is nostalgia? How should we view the past? How should we use the past? This week's episode explores one of cinema's most iconic metaphors to unpack the power of the past. The Films: Citizen Kane (1941) directed by Orson Welles Midnight in Paris (2011) directed by Woody Allen Be Kind Rewind (2008) directed by Michel Gondry Follow Us: https://www.facebook.com/sacredcinema https://www.in...

Why does Hollywood sometimes annoy us? Are entertainers necessary? How should we respond to our cultural leaders? With Hollywood receiving an increasing amount of scrutiny in recent years, this week's episode explores what the entertainment industry has to say about its own potential failings. The Films: Tropic Thunder (2008) directed by Ben Stiller Waiting for Guffman (1996) directed by Christoph...

How do we successfully protect the public? What does the ideal protector look like? What do true heroes do? Focusing specifically on mid-80s to early 90s action films, this week's episode examines three specific movie cops in contemplating what society values in its protectors.  The Films: Beverley Hills Cop (1984) directed by Martin Brest RoboCop (1987) directed by Paul Verhoeven  Super...

Do society's fears change over time? How does it feel to fear? Is there a way to leave our fears in the past? Following on from the 'Scary Stalkers' episode released a few weeks ago, this week's episode examines the ways in which the 'slasher' sub-genre has been re-imagined in the 21st century, specifically focusing on subversive depictions of 'the final girl'. The Films: Scream (1996) directed by...

Do we relate to each other in different ways as time passes? What are some of the consequences of misunderstanding someone? Are we doomed by our interpersonal differences? Focusing specifically on retrospective depictions of the mid to late 1970s and early 80s, this week's episode explores the ways in which opposites repel, alienate and attract one another in the modern world. The Films: The Last...

How do we feel after making bad decisions? What should we do (or not do) when we realise that we have made a bad decision? Will we consistently make the right (or wrong) decision throughout the entirety of our lives? Using Robert Frost's iconic poem as its springboard, this week's episode explores the feelings of guilt, regret and remorse that often overwhelm us after making discretionary choices....