Retro Reels

Hoop Dreams (1994) 04.11.2026 ↓

Hanna talks documentaries, starting with one of arguably the best American documentaries ever made.

The Blob (1958 and 1988) 28.10.2026 ↓

Okay, I have to do ONE Halloween episode. It just doesn't feel right not to.

Atonement (2007) 21.10.2026 ↓

This film was the subject of my late best friend's thesis and marked the end of a trend in filmmaking that saw many popular works of literature adapted to the screen.

Half Nelson (2006) 14.10.2026 ↓

A lesser known and, in my opinion, highly underrated film starring bigtime celebrity Ryan Gosling.

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) 07.10.2026 ↓

Hanna watches something by Jim Jarmusch for the first time in a long time.

Cinematography September: The Red Shoes (1948) 30.09.2026 ↓

Closing out Cinematography September with another banger photographed in luscious Technicolor by the great Jack Cardiff.

Cinematography September: Black Narcissus (1947) 23.09.2026 ↓

One of my very favorite movies from the 1940s, in no small part because of the amazing and highly memorable visual tricks they used to shoot it.

Cinematography September: Seconds (1966) 16.09.2026 ↓

Last but certainly not least among standout films shot in black in white by James Wong Howe.

Cinematography September: Hud (1963) 09.09.2026 ↓

Boy howdy do they make a bad guy look good.

Cinematography September: Sweet Smell of Success (1957) 02.09.2026 ↓

You don't even know what it means to quip if you haven't watched this movie.

One Week in the West: The Turin Horse (2011) 26.08.2026 ↓

I've been on slow cinema for so long now I figure I might as well torture myself just a bit more for good measure.

Three Times (2005) 19.08.2026 ↓

Hanna shares her final thoughts on Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao Hsien.

Flowers of Shanghai (1998) 12.08.2026 ↓

This movie's got opium pipes than I've ever seen smoked in my life. To be fair, they're not exactly easy to come by anymore given China's dynasty era is long over.

The Puppetmaster (1993) 05.08.2026 ↓

Discovering new favorites as I return to the filmography of Hou Hsiao-Hsien this month.

Punch Drunk Love (2002) 29.07.2026 ↓

It can't all be about my dad, can it. My son's dad should have his day, too. So this week is Aaron's choice.

The Tale of Zatoichi (1962) 22.07.2026 ↓

Zatoichi the blind swordsman is one of Japan's longest running film series, and a favorite of my father's.

Bicycle Thieves (1948) 15.07.2026 ↓

The kinda movie so sad I think I never wanna see it again. Happy Father's Day, I guess.

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.