Sacred Cinema
141 episodes - English - Latest episode: 1 day ago - ★★★★★ - 1 ratingHosted by Jimmy Bernasconi, Sacred Cinema explores the rich history of cinema and asks what the stories of the silver screen can teach us about ourselves, other people and the surrounding world.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Senses of Security - 'November' (2022) d. Cédric Jimenez, 'Children of Men' (2006) d. Alfonso Cuarón & 'Ex Machina' (2014) d. Alex Garland
April 30, 2023 04:31 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBWhy do we yearn for security? Can safety precautions ever go too far? How easily do we trust the untrustworthy? With the upcoming release of 'November' to Australian cinemas on 11 May 2023, this week's episode carries on from recent discussions about the thin line between being protected and being controlled. Get in Touch: Email: [email protected] --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/2xxfm-sacredcinema/message
The Simulate 90s - 'Dark City' (1998) d. Alex Proyas, 'The Matrix' (1999) d. the Wachowski Sisters & 'The Thirteenth Floor' (1999) d. Josef Rusnak
April 23, 2023 12:34 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBHow do we see ourselves in a world of apparent widespread conformity? Why and how do masses of people become controlled? Can we ever be truly un-ideological? After briefly touching on the cost of technological innovation last week, this week's episode examines cinematic depictions of simulations in the late 90s as metaphors for totalitarian control. Get in contact: Email: [email protected] --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/2xxfm-sacredcinema...
Lifting Off - 'Gattaca' (1997) d. Andrew Niccol, 'Sunshine' (2007) d. Danny Boyle & 'Interstellar' (2014) d. Christopher Nolan
April 16, 2023 12:39 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBWhat are the costs of innovation? What is the chance of failure in seeking progress? How should we progress knowing so little about the universe? Following some recent discussion about our existential condition, this week's episode contemplates arguably the biggest question of them all: how and why should the human race endure? Get in contact: Email: [email protected] --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/2xxfm-sacredcinema/message
The Dance of Romance - 'Dirty Dancing' (1987) d. Emile Ardolino, 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' (1953) d. Howard Hawks & 'Pearl' (2022) d. Ti West
April 09, 2023 15:31 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBWhat is the key to sexual maturity? Is it easy accept sexual freedom in our partners? What are the consequences of demonising a person's sexual urges? Following some similar conversations around sexuality and maturity, this week's episode examines films in which dancing is used as a symbol for sexual liberation. Get in contact: Email: [email protected] --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/2xxfm-sacredcinema/message
The Seeds of War - 'City of God' (2002) d. Fernando Meirelles & Kátia Lund, 'All Quiet on the Western Front' (2022) d. Edward Berger & 'Wag the Dog' (1997) d. Barry Levinson
April 02, 2023 03:17 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBIs it a simple fact that that poverty is the parent of revolution and crime? With whom and where do wars start and end? Is war always born out of hate and fear? Advancing previous discussions on the topic, this week's episode contemplates the fundamental causes of war to re-conceptualise armed conflict as a never-ending human struggle. Get in contact: Email: [email protected] --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/2xxfm-sacredcinema/message
Escape to the Seaside - 'Two Tickets to Greece' (2022) d. Marc Fitoussi, 'Pierrot le Fou' (1965) d. Jean-Luc Godard & 'The Green Ray' (1986) d. Éric Rohmer
March 26, 2023 10:52 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBWith what does a seaside escape provide us? How should we understand the urge to embrace the abyss? What can we gain from confronting limitlessness? After many tentative discussions about the subject, this week's episode specifically focuses on the symbolic significance of summer pilgrimages to the seaside. Get in contact: Email: [email protected] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmy_bernasconi/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/2xxfm-...
The Enemy Within - 'Face/Off' (1997) d. John Woo, 'To Leslie' (2022) d. Michael Morris & 'Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb' (1964) d. Stanley Kubrick
March 19, 2023 19:37 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBWho is the worst kind of enemy? Do we ever embody the traits of our enemies? How often do people actually find themselves in a state of head-to-head conflict? Building on previous conversations about enemies and the duality of man, this week's episode confronts the somewhat bipolar aspect of the human condition. Get in contact: Email: [email protected] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmy_bernasconi/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/2...
Princes, Prowlers and Progenitrices - 'Harold and Maude' (1971) d. Hal Ashby, 'Empire of Light' (2022) d. Sam Mendes & 'In the Bedroom' (2001) d. Todd Field
March 12, 2023 09:51 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBWhat can younger men learn from older women? What can older women learn from younger men? What are the dangers of ignoring the intersection of age and gender? Following last week's examination of the traditional dynamics between older men and younger women, this week's episode examines the contrary. Get in contact: Email: [email protected] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmy_bernasconi/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/2xxfm-sacredci...
Princesses, Predators and Protectors - 'Leon' (1994) d. Luc Besson, 'An Education' (2009) d. Lone Scherfig & 'Aftersun' (2022) d. Charlotte Wells
March 05, 2023 11:37 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBWhat does a classic protector look like? Do we ever let predators into our lives? Are princesses always in need of protection? Specifically focusing on films where young girls and older men are paired together, this week's episode examines traditional ideas about power and vulnerability through the lenses of age and gender. Get in touch: Email: [email protected] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmy_bernasconi/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com...
Consolidating Competence - 'Tár' (2022) d. Todd Field, 'Being There' (1979) d. Hal Ashby & 'Armaggedon' (1998) d. Michael Bay
February 26, 2023 11:20 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBWhat accounts for the demise of 'competence'? What accounts for the rise of 'incompetence'? How and why should the world maximise the grand sum of human competence? With the release of Todd Field's newest film, 'Tár' (2022), this week's episode examines the differing ways in which modern societies respond to competence and incompetence. Get in touch: Email: [email protected] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmy_bernasconi/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcaste...
Coming of Age at Work - 'Caddyshack' (1980) d. Harold Ramis, 'Mystic Pizza' (1988) d. Donald Petrie & 'Adventureland' (2009) d. Greg Mottola
February 18, 2023 22:01 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBWhat kinds of people do we specifically meet at work? Can the workplace be the key to our self-development? Can we still benefit from a poor work environment? Noting a common trait in multiple coming of age films set in the the 1980s, this week's episode examines the ways in which the workplace can help us grow in early adulthood. The Films: 'Caddyshack' (1980) d. Harold Ramis 'Mystic Pizza' (1988) d. Donald Petrie 'Adventureland' (2009) d. Greg Mottola Get in touch: Email: contact@ji...
The Roaring (20)20s - 'Babylon' (2022) d. Damien Chazelle, 'The Whale' (2022) d. Darren Aronofsky & 'Triangle of Sadness' (2022) d. Ruben Östlund
February 12, 2023 12:17 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBIs indulgence dangerous? Why does indulgence perpetually endanger us? In whom does indulgence manifest itself? Given that we are in the heart of awards season, this week's episode takes a look at one of the major cinematic trends of 2022. The Films: 'Babylon' (2022) d. Damien Chazelle 'The Whale' (2022) d. Darren Aronofsky 'Triangle of Sadness' (2022) d. Ruben Östlund Get in touch: Email: [email protected] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmy_bernasconi/ --- Send i...
Listening to Your Conscience - 'Pinocchio' (2022) d. Guillermo del Toro & Mark Gustafson, 'Heathers' (1988) d. Michael Lehmann & 'Donnie Darko' (2001) d. Richard Kelly
February 04, 2023 22:59 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBWhat is the relationship between the conscience and the self? Can listening to our conscience ever be a bad thing? If not our conscience, what should we listen to? Building on some brief discussions in last week's episode about self-discovery, this week's episode tackles the relationship we have with the voices inside our heads that purport to guide us. The Films: 'Pinocchio' (2022) d. Guillermo del Toro & Mark Gustafson 'Heathers' (1988) d. Michael Lehmann 'Donnie Darko' (2001) d. Ric...
Going Undercover - 'Mean Girls' (2004) d. Mark Waters, 'The Departed' d. Martin Scorsese & 'Le Doulos' (1962) d. Jean-Pierre Melville
January 29, 2023 10:04 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBHow can going undercover threaten our identity? What kinds of people go undercover? Can we ever reach a point of no return when going undercover? Following recent discussions about the relationship between public opinion and living virtuously, this week's episode contemplates the efficacy of joining forces with our enemies to defeat them from within. The Films: 'Mean Girls' (2004) d. Mark Waters 'The Departed' d. Martin Scorsese 'Le Doulos' (1962) d. Jean-Pierre Melville Get in conta...
Dark Knights - 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' (2001) d. Chris Columbus, '12 Angry Men' (1957) d. Sidney Lumet & 'Ladybird' (2017) d. Greta Gerwig
January 22, 2023 11:27 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBAre the people we hate always our true enemies? Can personal flaws ever be a badge of honour? Are we adept at recognising hate in ourselves? Building on last week's conversation about the relationship between modern protectors and those they protect, this week's episode examines the power of a negative public image. The Films: 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' (2001) d. Chris Columbus '12 Angry Men' (1957) d. Sidney Lumet 'Ladybird' (2017) d. Greta Gerwig Get in touch: Ema...
21st Century Vigilance - 'Saw' (2004) d. James Wan, 'V for Vendetta' (2005) d. James McTeigue & 'The Dark Knight' (2008) d. Christopher Nolan
January 15, 2023 13:20 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBWhat is the nature of state control in the 21st century? When do the ends justify the means? Can we simultaneously act righteously and avoid enemy attacks? Focusing specifically on films set in the mid to late 2000s, this week's episode contemplates the dangers and obligations of 21st century technocracies. Get in contact: Email: [email protected] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmy_bernasconi/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/2xx...
Containing the Year - 'The Apartment' (1960) d. Billy Wilder, 'My Night at Maud's' (1969) d. Éric Rohmer & 'When Harry Met Sally' (1989) d. Rob Reiner
December 25, 2022 13:37 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBWhat is the relationship between people and space? How should we compartmentalise people and key life events? Can we meet people more than once? As we say goodbye to 2022, this week's episode examines the various ways independence, acceptance and romantic maturity are commonly explored in multiple films set in late December. Get in contact: Email: [email protected] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmy_bernasconi/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify....
A Kafkaesque Christmas - 'Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful Life' (1993) d. Peter Capaldi, 'Brazil' (1985) d. Terry Gilliam & 'Eyes Wide Shut' (1999) d. Stanley Kubrick
December 18, 2022 12:35 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBUnder what circumstances do we seek isolation? Can systems designed to serve us ever imprison us? Can we ever be imprisoned by desire? As we enter the final weeks of December 2022, this week's episode examines the curious intersection of Christmas movies and the themes explored in the writings of Franz Kafka. Get in contact: Email: [email protected] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmy_bernasconi/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/...
Russia, Part II - 'Battleship Potemkin' (1925) d. Sergei Eisenstein, 'Mirror' (1975) d. Andrei Tarkovsky & 'The Sacrifice' (1986) d. Andrei Tarkovsky
December 11, 2022 12:49 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBHow can social change be instantly ignited? Are human beings doomed to a prison of idealism? How should we act in the wake of annihilation? To conclude our two-week series on Russia, this week's episode focuses on the rise of the Soviet Union, the perennial dilemmas it failed to solve and the burdens of geopolitical heavyweights. Get in contact: Email: [email protected] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmy_bernasconi/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spo...
Russia, Part I - 'Kompromat' (2022) d. Jérôme Salle, 'Andrei Rublev' (1966) d. Andrei Tarkovsky & 'Ivan the Terrible Parts, I & II' d. Sergei Eisenstein
December 04, 2022 07:50 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBWhat does Russia feel that it has to protect? What is required when establishing a cultural identity? What is required to protect a cultural identity? With the recent release of 'Kompromat', both this week and next week's episodes will try to account for Russia's current cultural identity in order to better understand its recent geopolitical behaviour. Get in Contact Email: [email protected] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmy_bernasconi/ --- Send in a voice message: ...
Russia, Part 1 - 'Kompromat' (2022) d. Jérôme Salle, 'Andrei Rublev' (1966) d. Andrei Tarkovsky & 'Ivan the Terrible Parts, I & II' d. Sergei Eisenstein
December 04, 2022 07:50 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBWhat does Russia feel that it has to protect? What is required when establishing a cultural identity? What is required to protect a cultural identity? With the recent release of 'Kompromat', both this week and next week's episodes will try to account for Russia's current cultural identity in order to better understand its recent geopolitical behaviour. Get in Contact Email: [email protected] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmy_bernasconi/ --- Send in a voice message: ...
Ruling Over the Dominion - 'Willow' (1988) d. Ron Howard, 'Margrete - Queen of the North' (2021) d. Charlotte Sieling & 'Moonrise Kingdom' (2012) d. Wes Anderson
November 27, 2022 11:21 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBCan tyrants maintain their power forever? Is absolute power unattainable in reality? Do human beings idealise a certain form of governance? Following on from last week's brief discussion of tyranny, this week's episode examines the complex relationship between authoritarian rulers and their subjects. Get in touch: Email: [email protected] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmy_bernasconi/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/2xxfm-sacredci...
Raising Hell, Raising Heaven - 'Hellraiser' (1987) d. Clive Barker, 'Armageddon Time' (2022) d. James Gray & 'Gladiator' (2000) d. Ridley Scott
November 21, 2022 12:27 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBHow closely related are our concepts of heaven and hell? Whose good intentions pave the way to hell? What might be the path to heaven? Viewing heaven and hell through a somewhat conceptual and secular lens, this week's episode evaluates the eternal resonance of our everyday actions. Contact Us: Email: [email protected] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmy_bernasconi/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/2xxfm-sacredcinema/message
Adam McKay's Apex - 'Anchorman' (2004), 'Talladega Nights' (2006), 'Step Brothers' (2008), 'The Other Guys' (2010), 'The Big Short' (2015), 'Vice' (2018) & 'Don't Look Up' (2021)
November 13, 2022 09:57 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBHow does satire advance social progress? Can the conventional become absurd? Are there shortcomings to contemptuous cinema? Covering a body of work that spans multiple decades, this week's episode explores the popular and compelling films of Adam McKay to contemplate how best to maximise cultural influence. Contact Us: Email: [email protected] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmy_bernasconi/?hl=en --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/2xx...
Canberra Short Film Festival Special w/ Stephanie Begg and Josh Mawer
November 06, 2022 12:52 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBThe Canberra Short Film Festival is back and in this week's episode, we are joined by festival entrants Stephanie Begg and Josh Mawer to chat all things short film making. All of the important details about this year's festival can be found at the official CSFF website here: https://www.csff.com.au/ Contact us: Email: [email protected] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmy_bernasconi/?hl=en --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/2xxfm-sacr...
The Home Ground Advantage - 'The Texas Chain Saw Massacre' (1974) d. Tobe Hooper, 'Barbarian' (2022) d. Zach Cregger & 'Blood Diamond' (2006) d. Edward Zwick
October 30, 2022 08:32 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBHow profound is the home ground advantage? Does a legal right to a home necessarily endow someone with a home ground advantage? How do the power dynamics associated with the home ground advantage play out in the real world? This week's episode focuses on the distinct sense of dominance locals often assert over outsiders and contemplates what specific factors need to be enlivened in order to access it. Get in touch: Email: [email protected] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ji...
College Boys - 'Old School' (2003) d. Todd Phillips, 'Liberal Arts' (2012) d. Josh Radnor & 'Brad's Status' (2017) d. Mike White
October 24, 2022 07:57 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBWhat accounts for society's attraction to college? What are the limitations of the arts and culture? Can we maintain our youth as we age? Focusing specifically on films in which adult men return to college, this week's episode examines the flurry of emotions we feel when we meditate on our formative years. Get in touch: https://www.instagram.com/jimmy_bernasconi/?hl=en --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/2xxfm-sacredcinema/message
Robert Altman's America - 'Nashville' (1975), 'The Player' (1992) & 'Short Cuts' (1993)
October 16, 2022 10:49 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBFrom where does rebellion generate? Who controls America? To what extent do Americans have a shared experience? Focusing specifically on the filmography of Robert Altman, this week's episode seeks to uncover some updated insights on the land of the free. Get in touch: https://www.instagram.com/jimmy_bernasconi/?hl=en --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/2xxfm-sacredcinema/message
Blending Art Forms w/ Terry Zwigoff - 'Louie Bluie' (1985), 'Crumb' (1994), 'Ghost World' (2001), 'Bad Santa' (2004) & 'Art School Confidential' (2006)
September 25, 2022 07:38 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBHow might moods be set? What unique powers do filmmakers possess? Can creative expression be therapeutic for both the creator and their audience? Following last week's episode, in which we discussed 'Ghost World' (2001), we are joined by special guest and legendary American director Terry Zwigoff to discuss his relationship with music, visual art and film. Get in touch: https://www.instagram.com/jimmy_bernasconi/?hl=en --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sho...
Secular Faith - 'The Hunt' (2012) d. Thomas Vinterberg, 'Ghost World' (2001) d. Terry Zwigoff & 'Sideways' (2004) d. Alexander Payne
September 18, 2022 13:27 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBWhat are the dangers of believing things we cannot prove? Can we exist without believing in something? How do we know when we can have faith in someone? Building on last week's episode on infidelity, this week's episode embarks on a broader exploration of faith and trust in people. Get in touch: https://www.instagram.com/jimmy_bernasconi/?hl=en --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/2xxfm-sacredcinema/message
Intro to Infidelity - 'The Postman Always Rings Twice' (1946) d. Tay Garnett, 'Closer' (2004) d. Mike Nichols & 'Both Sides of the Blade' (2022) d. Claire Denis
September 11, 2022 13:31 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBDoes cheating always catch up on us? Who is destined to stray from their spouse? How can we overcome unfaithfulness? Through the lens of romantic infidelity, this week's episode explores the ways in which our faith in one another can be tested and strengthened. Get in touch: https://www.instagram.com/jimmy_bernasconi/?hl=en --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/2xxfm-sacredcinema/message
Double-Edged Talent - 'What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?' (1962) d. Robert Aldrich, 'All About Eve' (1950) d. Joseph L. Mankiewicz & 'The Pianist' (2002) d. Roman Polanski
September 04, 2022 13:56 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBCan talent be a curse? To what extent does talent serve the talented? How and when should we wield our talents? It's a Bette Davis double this week, as we explore the darker side of being gifted. Keep in touch: https://www.facebook.com/sacredcinema https://www.instagram.com/jimmy_bernasconi/?hl=en --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/2xxfm-sacredcinema/message
(K)nowhere to Look - 'Nope' (2022) d. Jordan Peele, 'Don't Look Up' (2021) d. Adam McKay & 'Network' (1976) d. Sidney Lumet
August 28, 2022 12:50 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBWhat are the dangers of media spectacles? Are all news stories merely spectacles? Is there a healthy way to consume corporate media? In light of some seemingly opposing ideas from two recent films, this week's episode contemplates the dangers of modern media consumption. Get in touch: https://www.facebook.com/sacredcinema https://www.instagram.com/jimmy_bernasconi/?hl=en --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/2xxfm-sacredcinema/message
Middle Eastern Cinema w/ Sarah Barrie - 'About Elly' (2009) d. Asghar Farhadi, 'Women Without Men' (2009) d. Shirin Neshat and Shoja Azari & 'Incendies (2010) d. Denis Villeneuve
August 21, 2022 12:03 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBWhat are some of the lingering issues in modern Middle Eastern cultures? What is the continuing relationship between political and personal emancipation in the Middle Eastern context? What cultural characteristics do gross acts of violence illuminate? In this week's episode, Jimmy is joined by special guest Sarah Barrie, who has studied, worked in and travelled extensively throughout the Middle East, to discuss three impactful films that have come out of the region in recent decades. Get ...
Enemies of the State - 'Cool Hand Luke' (1967), 'The Conference' (2022) & 'The People vs. Larry Flynt' (1996)
August 14, 2022 07:43 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBHow does the state treat those who rebel against it? How should we view an oppressive state? What are we actually referring to when we talk about 'the state'? In discussing three films that centre on the relationship between 'rebellious' individuals and the institutions that govern them, this week's episode questions the various attitudes we have toward those in power. The Films: 'Cool Hand Luke' (1967) directed by Stuart Rosenberg 'The Conference' (2022) directed by Matti Geschonneck 'T...
Existopmotionalism - 'Anomalisa' (2015), 'Harvie Krumpet' (2003) & '$9.99' (2008)
August 07, 2022 10:12 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBHow do we view ourselves in relation to others? Are people ever the same? What does the meaning of life cost? In exploring some of the bigger philosophical questions we all face, this week's episode focuses on the curiously common cross-over of stop motion and existential cinema. The Films: 'Anomalisa' (2015) directed by Duke Johnson and Charlie Kaufman 'Harvie Krumpet' (2003) directed by Adam Elliot '$9.99' (2008) directed by Tatia Rosenthal Stay Connected: https://www.facebook.com/s...
Stressful Sequences - 'After Hours' (1985), 'Uncut Gems' (2019) & 'Full Time' (2021)
July 31, 2022 03:02 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBHow does it feel to be inundated with unwelcome stress? How can our own actions contribute to stress? Can stress ever be desirable? This week's episode focuses on three high-tempo films in which the titular protagonists are relentlessly burdened by various sources of stress. The Films: 'After Hours' (1985) directed by Martin Scorsese 'Uncut Gems' (2019) directed by Josh Safdie and Benny Safdie 'Full Time' (2021) directed by Eric Gravel Follow Us: https://www.facebook.com/sacredcinema ...
The Turning Tides in Taiwanese Cinema w/ Benson Wu, Helen Stenbeck & Yi-Tsun Chen - 'Homebound' (2022), 'Goddamned Asura' (2021) & 'Yi Yi' (2000)
July 24, 2022 01:22 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBHow do false images of faraway lands affect us? What is the relationship between our choices and the world around us? What impact has modernisation had on interhuman connectivity? In another special guest(s) episode, Jimmy sits down with Benson Wu, Helen Stenbeck and Yi-Tsun Chen from the 2022 Taiwanese Film Festival to chat about the ongoing transformations in Taiwan and its film industry and what audiences can look forward to at this year's festival. The Films: 'Homebound' (2022) directe...
Playing with Murder w/ Nicolas Pleskof - 'Murder Party' (2022)
July 24, 2022 01:01 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBWhat can the vicious act of murder teach us about strategy and logic? What does the act of play uncover in the face of mystery? Are we more attentive to truth when we find it ourselves? In this week's special episode, Jimmy sits down with French director Nicolas Pleskof to chat about his new film, 'Murder Party', and the intersection of games and murder. Follow Us: https://www.facebook.com/sacredcinema https://www.instagram.com/jimmy_bernasconi/?hl=en --- Send in a voice message: https...
High Art, Low Art - 'Sullivan's Travels' (1941), 'In Bruges' (2008) & 'Compartment Number 6' (2021)
July 17, 2022 13:27 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBHow should we view 'lowbrow' art? How should we approach conflicting views on artistic value? Is it useful for people to have differences in taste? Drawing on a number of themes raised in recent weeks, this week's episode challenges the highbrow/lowbrow dichotomy by examining cinematic depictions of filmmaking, architecture and archeology. The Films: 'Sullivan's Travels' (1941) directed by Preston Sturges 'In Bruges' (2008) directed by Martin McDonagh 'Compartment Number 6' (2021) direc...
The Odyssey of Brotherhood - 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' (2000), 'About Schmidt' (2002) & 'The Straight Story' (1999)
July 10, 2022 11:55 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBWhat is the essence of brotherhood? What does true brotherhood feel like? What is required to find our brothers? Focusing on three modern American cinematic odysseys, this week's episode examines the long and adventurous journeys upon which we embark in finding and embracing our fellow man. The Films: 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' (2000) directed by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen 'About Schmidt' (2002) directed by Alexander Payne 'The Straight Story' (1999) directed by David Lynch Follow Us: ...
Descendants and Ancestors - 'Hereditary' (2018), 'Once Were Warriors' (1994) & 'The Descendants' (2011)
July 03, 2022 08:24 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBHow does it feel to suffer at the hands of our predecessors? Should we dispose of everything tainted by past mistakes? How can we view the burdens we inherit constructively? This week's episode examines three cinematic personifications of the past in order to unpack a key aspect of the eternal tension between conservatism and progressivism The Films: 'Hereditary' (2018) directed by Ari Aster 'Once Were Warriors' (1994) directed by Lee Tamahori 'The Descendants' (2011) directed by Alexan...
Decisiveness, Discipline and Dexter - 'Cold War' (2018), 'Whiplash' (2014) & ''Round Midnight' (1986)
June 26, 2022 08:12 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBWhat are the dangers of indecisiveness? What are the dangers of self-discipline? What is the relationship between self-improvement and community? Following on from last week's discussion about the line between sacrifice and suicide, this week's episode looks at three cinematic depictions of jazz to distinguish self-discipline from self-destruction. The Films: 'Cold War' (2018) directed by Pawel Pawlikowski 'Whiplash' (2014) directed by Damien Chazelle ''Round Midnight' (1986) directed b...
Weeping Widows - 'Midsommar' (2019), 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore' (1974) & 'Good Luck to You, Leo Grande' (2022)
June 19, 2022 14:32 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBWhat does it take to abandon a toxic relationship? How do we endure through a lifetime of betrayal? Who is ultimately burdened with the responsibility of emancipating us from imprisoning relationships? Exploring the inverse of a number of themes covered over the past few weeks, this week's episode focuses on three romantically unfulfilled female protagonists confronting the fallout of severed relationships. The Films: 'Midsommar' (2019) directed by Ari Aster 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anym...
Blow-ins, Bravado & Beliefs - 'Straw Dogs' (1971), 'Wake in Fright' (1971) & 'The Wicker Man' (1973)
June 12, 2022 13:24 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBHow should outsiders behave in new and confronting circumstances? What happens when we follow the dominant mob? What is at the core of societal tension? Following on from discussions about the darker sides of masculinity, this week's episode focuses on a sub-genre of films from the early seventies that explored the friction between outsiders and communities with established traditions. The Films: 'Straw Dogs' (1971) directed by Sam Peckinpah 'Wake in Fright' (1971) directed by Ted Kotche...
Killers - 'Snowtown' (2011), 'Killer Joe' (2011) & 'Sling Blade' (1996)
June 05, 2022 06:45 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBFrom where does the killer instinct come? Should the state have the power to enact violence? When, if ever, is violence morally justifiable? Following on from recent episodes, in which we have explored confrontational and destructive societal tendencies, this week's episode further examines the nullification of those we despise. The Films: 'Snowtown' (2011) directed by Justin Kurzel 'Killer Joe' (2011) directed by William Friedkin 'Sling Blade' (1996) directed by Billy Bob Thornton Fol...
Boys Gone Wild - 'Taxi Driver' (1976), 'La Haine' (1995) & 'This Sporting Life' (1963)
May 29, 2022 12:40 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBWhat is the relationship between injustice and destruction? Can we apprehend imminent destruction? What happens when we completely abandon the feminine? In light of recent events, this week's episode focuses on the potentially dangerous traits of the typical male psyche. The Films: Taxi Driver (1976) directed by Martin Scorsese La Haine (1995) directed by Mathieu Kassovitz This Sporting Life (1963) directed by Lindsay Anderson Follow Us: https://www.facebook.com/sacredcinema https://w...
Eliminating the Enemy - 'Dial M for Murder' (1954), 'Zulu' (1964) & 'Suspiria' (1977)
May 22, 2022 11:16 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBCan we actually eliminate our enemies? How can we reconcile our differences? Where should we look for our enemies? Expanding our conversations into the romantic, political and personal realms, this week's episode contemplates the ways in which we should deal with those we oppose. The Films: Dial M for Murder (1954) directed by Alfred Hitchcock Zulu (1964) directed by Cy Endfield Suspiria (1977) directed by Dario Argento Follow Us: https://www.facebook.com/sacredcinema https://www.ins...
False Prophets - 'La Ricotta' (1962), 'The Night of the Hunter' (1955) & 'Martha Marcy May Marlene' (2011)
May 15, 2022 10:36 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBDo humans have the capacity to prophesy and preach truth? How do we identify false prophets? How adept are we at knowing when we are under someone's spell? Following recent episodes about the nature of cultural leaders, this episode focuses on the processes that underpin deceitful leadership. The Films: La Ricotta (1962) directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini The Night of the Hunter (1955) directed by Charles Laughton Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011) directed by Sean Durkin Follow Us: https:/...
Rosebud - 'Citizen Kane' (1941), 'Midnight in Paris' (2011) & 'Be Kind Rewind' (2008)
May 08, 2022 11:51 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBHow powerful is nostalgia? How should we view the past? How should we use the past? This week's episode explores one of cinema's most iconic metaphors to unpack the power of the past. The Films: Citizen Kane (1941) directed by Orson Welles Midnight in Paris (2011) directed by Woody Allen Be Kind Rewind (2008) directed by Michel Gondry Follow Us: https://www.facebook.com/sacredcinema https://www.instagram.com/jimmy_bernasconi/?hl=en --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.sp...