Wolf Cub Film Club

Shannon Owen joins us to talk about the making of Left Write Hook, an important and gripping Australian doco. In a unique, therapeutic program for survivors of sexual abuse, boxing and creative writing become unlikely but effective allies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our special guest in this first episode of Season 4 is John Hughes, much respected filmmaker and elder of the Australian independent screen community. In an episode made more pertinent by the Trump administration’s Operation Epic Fury directed at Iran, we discuss John’s latest feature documentary: TWILIGHT TIME. It’s the story of the ‘insurgent intellectual’ and defence analyst Prof Des Ball, who...

While Wolf is up North in Australia snorkeling with tropical fish and Cub is heading North in Germany to pick potatoes, the two have paused to watch the movie Perfect Days (2023) – recommended by listener Helen Thomas (Snr). The Japanese feature film is directed by Wim Wenders and follows the daily life and routine of Hirayama, a man who lives his life in simplicity and daily tranquility, cleaning...

More than seven years in the making, Queens of Concrete follows the trials and tribulations of Hayley, Ava and Charlotte - three young skateboarders set on making it to the Olympics. More a 'coming of age' than a sports doco, the feature began as a graduating work from Melbourne's VCA Film School. Director Eliza Cox and producer Gena Riess discuss their own trials and tribulations in making Queens...

In this episode the Wolf and his special guest, director Adrian Francis, discuss Paper City – a feature documentary on the firebombing of Tokyo in March 1945. As the 80th anniversary of the most destructive air raid in history approaches, Paper City records the stories of a decreasing number of witnesses to the destruction of a quarter of the city and killing of 100,000 civilians by the American a...

In this episode Wolf & Cub take a look at the 2024 Netflix Documentay Will & Harper Directed by Josh Greenbaum. In this intimate portrayal of friendship, transition and America, Will Ferrell and his close friend of thirty years, Harper Steele, decide to go on a cross-country road trip to explore a new chapter in their relationship and uncharted waters for both of them. Wolf is a little und...

In the final episode of Season Two, Wolf & Cub turn the spotlight on each other, sharing mutual insights from their professional filmmaking and creative journeys. Steve reflects on his career as a documentary filmmaker and body of work that has spanned over three decades and Daniel shares his multi-faceted creative endeavours from architecture, to music, to film and the influence watching his...

On this episode Wolf & Cub take a look at STEVE (martin) a Documentary in two pieces, which follows the life of Comedian and Actor Steve Martin. The doc was made in two distinct and stylistically different parts, the first exploring Martin's Stand-Up Comedy career and the second a more reflective piece looking back at his body of film work. As well as diving into the events of the film, we dis...

On this episode Wolf & Cub take a look at the first two seasons of Welcome to Wrexham available on Disney +. In 2020, Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds teamed up to purchase the fifth tier Red Dragons in the hope of turning Wrexham AFC into an underdog story the whole world can root for, but the concern was that neither had any experience in football. From Hollywood to Wales, from the pitch to...

On this episode Wolf & Cub take a look at the recent Netflix Docuseries ‘Beckham’. Directed by Fisher Stevens it follows David Beckham's meteoric rise from humble beginnings to global football stardom. Wolf is an avid Manchester United fan & we’ve both supported England over the years so along with the filmmaking there's much to discuss. If you have a filmmaking question, film or seri...

On this episode episode Wolf (Steve Thomas) & Cub (Daniel Thomas) take a look at a new doco called 'Subject' which examines the impact of some well-known documentaries on the lives of their subjects with a focus on the ethics & responsibly inherent in documentary filmmaking. As tens of millions of people consume documentaries in an unprecedented "golden era," Subject urges audiences to con...

It’s been a little while between episodes in this second series but we are now bringing you an endeavour into the saga that is… the Staircase. On this episode wolf & cub comparatively discuss the documentary series on Netflix and the HBO dramatised version starring Colin Firth and Toni Collette. https://www.instagram.com/wolfcubfilmclub/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informat...

On this episode Wolf & Cub checkout the 2023 Documentary Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie Directed by Davis Guggenheim which follows the life of the beloved actor & advocate exploring his personal & professional triumphs & travails, & what happens when an incurable optimist confronts an incurable disease. The Doco is available on Apple TV+ We would like to dedicate this Episode to...

Wolf & Cub get stuck in time as they have an in depth conversation about the 2021 Documentary 'Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in time' which recounts the extraordinary life of author Kurt Vonnegut, and the 25-year friendship with filmmaker Robert Weide who set out to document it. If you'd like to recommend a film for us to discuss or have a question you'd like us to answer please get in touch. https:/...

On the final episode for season one, Wolf & Cub have chosen narrative films from Europe & Australia. First up Cub has selected the Danish film 'Another Round' (2020) about four high school teachers who consume alcohol on a daily basis to see how it affects their social and professional lives. Next up Wolf has chosen the Australian film 'The Tracker' (2002) about a police officer leading an...

On this episode wolf & cub change it up & look at the body of work from Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi. In 2010 Panahi was convicted by Iran’s Islamic republic of “making propaganda against the system” & placed under house arrest. He faced a 20 year ban on writing scripts, directing films, giving interviews or leaving the country. His films are a social critique & include ‘This is...

Wolf & Cub take a look at two documentaries that use interesting narrative devices. First up it's 'Misha & the Wolves' (2021) directed by Sam Hobkinson, the tale of a woman whose holocaust memoir took the world by storm, but a fallout with her publisher - who turned detective - revealed an audacious deception created to hide a darker truth. Next up it's 'Stories we tell' (2012) directed by...

Wolf & Cub take a look at two documentaries centred around masculinity and personal growth. First up is 'Free Solo' (2018) directed by Jimmy Chin & Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi about rock climber Alex Honnold's attempt to become the first person to climb El Capitan, a giant rock face in Yosemite National Park without ropes. Next up is 'The Work' (2017) directed by Jairus McLeary & Gethin...

Wolf & Cub dissect two films this week with a medical theme. First up it's 'Sound of Metal' (2019) a narrative directed by Darius Marder about a heavy-metal drummer whose life is thrown into free-fall when he begins to lose his hearing. Next up is 'The English Surgeon' a documentary directed by Geoffrey Smith about the life of a neurosurgeon & the overwhelming dilemmas he continually faces...

Wolf & Cub roam the animal kingdom this week with two documentaries focused on animals & our relationships with them. First up it's 'My Octopus Teacher' (2020) directed by Pippa Ehrlich & James Reed which follows the journey of filmmaker Craig Foster as he forges an unusual bond with an octopus in a South African kelp forest. Next up is 'Kedi' (2016) directed by Ceyda Torun a profile o...

In this episode Wolf & Cub take a look at two music documentaries. First up it's 'Beastie Boys Story' (2020) a live doco experience Directed by Spike Jonze where the two remaining members Michael Diamond & Adam Horovitz share the story of the band & their 40 year friendship. Followed by 'Amy' (2015) Directed by Asif Kapadia, an intimate portrait of the life & career of Amy Winehous...

In our first episode wolf & cub dive into 2 Netflix documentaries,'Pelé' (2021) a homage to possibly the greatest footballer in history directed by Ben Nicholas & David Tryhorn & 'Dick Johnson is Dead' (2020) a hybrid doco directed by Kirsten Johnson as she helps her father prepare for the end of his life. In examining the films, cub is compelled to share a story about his close encoun...

Wolf & Cub, who happen to be father and son, review top class films from around the world together. They're both filmmakers, Steve Thomas (Wolf) is a documentary maker & film school senior lecturer, while Danny Thomas (Cub) is also an actor and a writer. They review two films per episode, each recommended by the other, & discuss connecting themes as well as their own experiences on &am...