Retro Reels

Singin' in the Rain (1952) 01.07.2026 ↓

I did Mother's Day all month in May so for July let's do the same for the dads. I never knew until this year that my father was such a fan of musicals — sometimes these old fellas can still surprise you.

One Week in the West: The General (1926) 24.06.2026 ↓

For the hundreth episode of Retro Reels, let's watch a movie that's turning a hundred years old this year. You can watch The General right here on YouTube .

Gregg Araki's Teen Apocalypse Trilogy (1993-1997) 17.06.2026 ↓

For the last episode of this year's Pride Month series, Hanna spotlights some of Japanese-American director Gregg Araki's earlier work, which paved the way for the Queer New Wave.

Tropical Malady (2004) 10.06.2026 ↓

I saved this particular film by Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul just for pride month.

Lan Yu (2001) 03.06.2026 ↓

A sad love story featuring some very unexpected sexual and political content when you consider it was a Chinese production.

The History Boys (2006) & An Education (2009) 27.05.2026 ↓

While we're on the subject of British film, I wanted to highlight a couple of my favorite coming of age stories in the same vein. Read Lynn Barber's original essay, An Education,  here .

Secrets & Lies (1996) 20.05.2026 ↓

A movie my mother recommended to me, that I in turn recommend to you.

The Hours (2002) 13.05.2026 ↓

A movie that reminds me of my mom. Thankfully not for any of the reasons you might assume based on the content of the film.

Mildred Pierce (1945) & Mommie Dearest (1981) 06.05.2026 ↓

Happy(??) Mother's Day! I'm doing Mother's Day all month, starting with a certain Hollywood legend.

One Week in the West: Au Hasard Balthazar (1966) 29.04.2026 ↓

This week I watched a film about a donkey. No, it was not Shrek.

Millennium Mambo (2001) 22.04.2026 ↓

A movie about the turn of the milliennium seems a fitting end to this series on the works of Hou Hsiao Hsien.

A City of Sadness (1989) 15.04.2026 ↓

I did a lot of research for this one, enough that you can consider this episode a viewer's guide for the film.

The Time to Live and the Time to Die (1985) 08.04.2026 ↓

Yes hello, Hou Hsiao Hsien? Can I get another huge downer of a movie please? Thank you. Happy birthday, by the way.

The Boys from Fengkuei (1983) 01.04.2026 ↓

Just ahead of his birthday, Hanna's kicking off a monthlong series about the works of Taiwanese New Wave director and erstwhile actor Hou Hsiao Hsien.

Women's History Month: Old Joy (2006) & Wendy and Lucy (2008) 25.03.2026 ↓

Hanna wraps up women's month with a double feature by director Kelly Reichardt.

Women's History Month: Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975) 18.03.2026 ↓

Chantal Ackerman's film illustrates how women's work is never finished, rarely asked for, and hardly noticed or appreciated. 

Women's History Month: Cléo from 5 to 7 (1962) 11.03.2026 ↓

French New Wave? On MY program? It's more likely than you think!

Women's History Month: The Eternal Breasts (1955) 04.03.2026 ↓

Let's give Kinuyo Tanaka her due. You can watch The Eternal Breasts right here on YouTube.

One Week in the West: They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969) 25.02.2026 ↓

Jane Fonda's performance is unforgettable in this 1969 movie by Sydney Pollack, and somehow its message feels more relevant than ever.

Sansho the Bailiff (1954) 18.02.2026 ↓

It's been an up and down kind of ride with Mizoguchi, but by the end, Hanna is reminded of why she watches all these old movies in the first place.

Ugetsu (1953) 11.02.2026 ↓

Maybe Hanna can squash her beef with Mizoguchi yet.

The Life of Oharu (1952) 04.02.2026 ↓

The first time in a long time that Hanna is taken aback by how much she disliked a movie.

Osaka Elegy (1936) & The Story of the Last Chrysanthemums (1939) 28.01.2026 ↓

It's real sad girl hours for this week's double feature and introductory episode on the legendary Japanese director Kenji Mizoguchi.

One Week in the West: Scanners (1981) 21.01.2026 ↓

A mind-blowing pick for this month's installment of One Week in the West.