Episodes

  • Longing for a home you have never known. L'Atalante (1934) with Billy Stanton

    Longing for a home you have never known. L'Atalante (1934) with Billy Stanton
    Dec 12 2024
    In this episode I talk to Billy Stanton. Billy is a writer, filmmaker and the organiser of the Noli film festival. He introduced me to both L’Atalante and Jean Vigo and is a passionate advocate for a free and creative cinema. Links: https://steelcathedrals.wordpress.com/- This is Billy’s blog with links to his short fiction and some of his film writing. https://nolishortfilmfestival.wordpress.com/- this is the festival website. https://filmfreeway.com/NoliTheTooLongTooDifficultTooRawShortFilmFestival- this is the Film Freeway page. https://shop.bfi.org.uk/l-atalante-bfi-film-classics.html?srsltid=AfmBOopHBa-0kvtyJG8doL3BNcU8K7zw8OlwRmcvzM4keHjfVecrdHCb- this is the Marina Warner book on L'Atalante that Billy mentioned a few times https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Jean_Vigo.html?id=6LDHQgAACAAJ&redir_esc=y - this is Paulo Gomes' beautiful biography of Jean Vigo https://www.sensesofcinema.com/2004/feature-articles/kapo_daney/ - this is a reprint of the Serge Daney's piece on Kapo (and Jacques Rivette) that Billy mentioned when we were talking about After Hours. Probably my favourite piece of film criticism ever! https://sergedaney.blogspot.com/ - there's been two amazing translations of Serge Daney's books in the last couple of years by Semiotext(e), but until then, this site and a translation of Postcards From the Cinema were the only ways to read Serge in English.
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    1 hr and 19 mins
  • 24 fps - A short fiction

    24 fps - A short fiction
    Nov 26 2024

    This episode is a reading of a short fiction inspired by my conversation with Sheridan Seraphim about Robert Bresson.

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    13 mins
  • Begging money for a new Mercedes Benz - Winter Sun 2 - Calamari Union

    Begging money for a new Mercedes Benz - Winter Sun 2 - Calamari Union
    Nov 19 2024

    Episode two in occasion series on the films of Aki Kaurismaki. In this edition we talk about 'Calamari Union' from 1985, the second feature written and directed by our favourite Finn.

    It's the story of 15 (or is it 17?) men called Frank and their doomed great escape to the good part of town.

    And ok, everything reminds me of Beckett.
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    12 mins
  • Experimental film-making was the friends we made along the way - Last Days in a Lonely Place - Phil Solomon (2007)

    Experimental film-making was the friends we made along the way - Last Days in a Lonely Place - Phil Solomon (2007)
    Oct 12 2024

    A mediation on mortality and friendship inspires a mediation on friendship and form.


    You can see 'Last Days in a Lonely Place' here:

    https://youtu.be/eoSI9_I3sO8?si=tYlblCyqp9Z0egL2


    Alex Cox's Introduction to Film:

    ALEX COX'S INTRODUCTION TO FILM | KAMERA BOOKS Kickstarter for Alex Cox's Last Film:

    MY LAST MOVIE by Alex Cox — Kickstarter


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    28 mins
  • (A) demanding simplicity. Sheridan Seraphin on Au Hasard Balthazar (1966)

    (A) demanding simplicity. Sheridan Seraphin on Au Hasard Balthazar (1966)
    Aug 20 2024

    Sheridan Seraphin is a film-maker from London. In this episode we discuss Robert Bresson's masterpiece Au Hasard Balthazar from 1966.

    We speak about the relationships a film-maker has with place and time (and finance- personal and professional), the legacy of Bresson's famous ideas of cinematography, ans lots more.

    Find Sheridan's work at:

    HOME - home, homepage,blue sera films, videographer london, cinematic, Enjoy, JL
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    1 hr and 18 mins
  • Winter Sun 1- Crime and Punishment - Aki Kaurasmaki

    Winter Sun 1- Crime and Punishment - Aki Kaurasmaki
    Jul 16 2024

    The first in a series on one of my favourites, Aki Kaurismaki.

    I look at his first feature - Crime and Punishment - a bold statement of intent and a minefield of names to horribly mis-pronounce.

    Resources:

    https://youtu.be/0CW6z3r4Xr4?si=SijbjbP0EWSyIM2K

    https://youtu.be/d9tp8rAaTsE?si=1BfH_BDsOIYOOy2W

    https://youtu.be/GRbrzDZBlqg?si=Ah7mjzdxkliHqYZ0


    If you have the means and the inclination a contribution here would be much appreciated:

    https://ko-fi.com/mypicturehouse
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    30 mins
  • Three coats of Blood. The passion of John Rambo in three coats with David O'Sullivan

    Three coats of Blood. The passion of John Rambo in three coats with David O'Sullivan
    Jun 4 2024

    In this episode I am joined by my old friend David O'Sullivan of Dyehouse films. We discuss the 1982 film First Blood and the way in which its use of three coats retells the passion of Christ.

    Dyehouse films- Dyehouse Films

    Moore Street Masala- https://youtu.be/_1taXkpCx88?si=bf5gHelP9Koiqb-8
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    41 mins
  • 'a never-failing source of wonder to me' - Ian White on 'if....' and 'Mutiny in Heaven'

    'a never-failing source of wonder to me' - Ian White on 'if....' and 'Mutiny in Heaven'
    Apr 30 2024

    In this episode I am joined by the film-maker Ian White. We talk about his choice of film – ‘if….’ By Lindsey Anderson (1968) and his own new documentary ‘Mutiny in Heaven’ (2023) that chronicles the fascinating history of The Birthday Party, one of the most influential, brilliant, violent and possessed bands of the 1980s.

    We talk about matching form to subject, things that don’t exist anymore, the pleasures and pains of the digital and pre-digital worlds, the potential beauty of nihilism

    For more information on where to see ‘Mutiny in Heaven’ in the cinema, streaming or to buy the DVD-

    Birthday Party Movie - Mutiny in Heaven | documentary

    Mutiny in Heaven — Cargo Film & Releasing (cargofilm-releasing.com)


    I
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    52 mins