Films for Today – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In this week's episode we bid farewell to Sacred Cinema and preview an exciting new program, also centred on the relationship between cinema and society.

Be sure to keep 'following' Sacred Cinema for the time being, as it will be the home of our new show, 'Films for Today'!

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What does intimidation feel like? Can brave curiosity fully solve all of the problems that confront us? What should the meek integrate in order to overcome domineering threats? Following on nicely from related discussions last week, this week's episode examines three distinct cinematic depictions of profoundly overwhelming and colossal forces imposing upon female protagonists.

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What effect does vengeance have on feminine purity? Are avengers ever assaultive themselves? Is revenge the only response to injustice? With the release of 'Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga', this week's episode examines three films in which feminine characters are avenged.

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How 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

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How 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) directed by Ismail Fahmi Lubish

'Goddamned Asura' (2021) directed by Yi-an Lou

'Yi Yi' (2000) directed by Edward Yang

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What 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.

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How 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) directed by Juho Kuosmanen

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What 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

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How 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 Alexander Payne

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What 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 by Bertrand Tavernier

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