The new episode of Cinema Italiano discusses Federico Fellini's landmark film 8 1/2, featuring special guest Albert Gutierrez! In our conversation, we go into how this classic tackles gender relations in modern Italy, Catholic guilt, the tension between honesty and deceit, and even how the film portends the coming of serious science fiction. This was an especially … Continue reading Episode #06: 8 1/2
Buona Pasqua! This is a special Easter edition of Cinema Italiano, with an audio essay on Pier Paolo Pasolini's The Gospel According to St. Matthew, exploring this excitingly anachronistic tale of Christ with themes and motifs that recur throughout Pasolini's filmography. Links: The Gospel According to Film - April 2018 essay comparing three films about the … Continue reading Episode #05: The Gospel According to St. Matthew
This episode features some news updates (including the Criterion Channel launch) and an audio essay on Roberto Rossellini's The Flowers of St. Francis, discussing its portrayal of the saint and his ideologies, plus the cultural context in which his story unfolds. Links: Social Media: Facebook | Instagram Letterboxd: Ciao, Criterion Channel! The Flowers of St. Francis … Continue reading Episode #04: The Flowers of St. Francis
Spoilers ahead, and not enough Goose the cat.
We deep-dive into this modern classic, including the cultural context of its northern Italian setting, how art and music contribute to the greater narrative, and how language and identity play a key role in this coming-of-age love story.
On this episode, we're discussing Luchino Visconti's Death in Venice (1971) with special guest and Visconti aficionado Jon Laubinger (Film Baby Film, The 25th Frame Media)! We go into the film's themes of beauty, art, and decay, as well as how setting and geography fit into this dark tale. Jon also shares great insight around how Death … Continue reading Episode #02: Death in Venice
Paul Haggis's Crash (2004) was well-received upon its release. It has a 74% on Rotten Tomatoes, was Roger Ebert's favorite film of the year, earned the SAG award for Best Ensemble, won several Best Original Screenplay awards (including the Writers Guild prize and Academy Award), and (most notoriously) won Best Picture at the 2005 Academy Awards. … Continue reading Oscars Controversies: In Defense of “Crash” (2004)
