Her Head In Films

In this episode, I talk about Wong Kar-wai's 2000 film, "In the Mood for Love," which follows two people--Mr. Chow and Mrs. Chan--in 1960s Hong Kong whose spouses are cheating on them with each other. Mrs. Chan and Mr. Chow spend more and more time together, imagining how their spouses met and started their affair, but they start to fall in love. Intent on not acting like their spouses, they resist temptation. In my exploration of the film, I emphasize the themes of longing, loneliness, desire, memory, and nostalgia. Consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. Subscribe to the Her Head in Films Newsletter. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. Original artwork by Dhiyanah Hassan Full show notes: What I've Been Watching Notes Britbox AcornTV Rosemary and Thyme My Journey Through French Cinema Extra episode about French cinema for my patrons on Patreon French Poetic Realism Port of Shadows The Docks of New York Underworld The Black Power Mixtape 1967 to 1975

In this episode, I talk about David Lean's 1945 film, "Brief Encounter." Set in 1938, in pre-WWII England, it's about Laura and Alec, two strangers who fall in love despite being married to other people. I talk about how the film centers a woman's tormented inner life and why it's such a romantic classic. Consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. Subscribe to the Her Head in Films Newsletter. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. Original artwork by Dhiyanah Hassan Full show notes: My episode on The Passion of Joan of Arc My episode on David Lean's 'Summertime' More about The Bridges of Madison County More about Unfaithful

In this episode, I recap episodes 5 ("Closer") and 6 ("Cherry") of the HBO limited series, "Sharp Objects." I talk about how the relationship between Camille and Adora is getting darker and how the show continues to explore trauma and memory in an evocative way. I share some of my own personal memories and struggles when it comes to grief and loss. Warning for discussion of self-harm, sexuality, and rape. Consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. Subscribe to the Her Head in Films Newsletter. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. Original artwork by Dhiyanah Hassan

In this episode, I talk about James Ivory's 1987 film, "Maurice." It's based on the novel of the same name by E.M. Forster. It's set in 1910 and tells the story of Maurice Hall, a young man who attends Cambridge University and falls in love with Clive Durham. The film follows them over several years, tracing the turmoil of their relationship. Clive eventually marries, and Maurice finds love with Alec Scudder, a man who works on Clive's estate. Made and released in the 1980s, at the height of the AIDS epidemic, "Maurice" is a film that celebrates and affirms queer love. It features brilliant performances by James Wilby, Hugh Grant, and Rupert Graves, who all were deeply committed to their roles. For this episode, I talk about E.M. Forster, Merchant Ivory Productions, the filming of "Maurice," and I explain why this dreamy and romantic film continues to enchant me. Consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. Subscribe to the Her Head in Films Newsletter. F

In this episode, I recap episodes 3 and 4 of the HBO limited series, "Sharp Objects." I discuss the importance of more women having a role in films and television, my current obsession with woman-centric crime fiction, the show's representation of female sexuality and mother/daughter relationships, and much more. Consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. Subscribe to the Her Head in Films Newsletter. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. Original artwork by Dhiyanah Hassan Full show notes: Listen to my recap episode of episodes 1 and 2 Ronan Farrow's New Yorker article on Les Moonves More about the incident of a woman in Paris being hit by her harasser Listen to my episode on Ingmar Bergman's Autumn Sonata

In this episode, I talk about Ingmar Bergman's devastating 1978 film, "Autumn Sonata." It's an unforgettable portrait of a mother/daughter relationship that is toxic and damaging. It was Ingmar's only collaboration with Ingrid Bergman. Their working relationship was difficult at times, but there is no denying that both she and Liv Ullmann give powerhouse performances. Consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. Subscribe to the Her Head in Films Newsletter. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. Original artwork by Dhiyanah Hassan Full show notes Billy Collins and Donald Hall interview with Diane Rehm My Wild Strawberries episode My Summer Interlude episode Images: My Life in Film by Ingmar Bergman The Magic Lantern by Ingmar Bergman Ingrid Bergman in her Own Words My episode on A Woman Under the Influence

In this episode, I explore Ingmar Bergman's 1957 classic, "Wild Strawberries," in which an elderly man remembers moments from his past and struggles to connect with the people in his life. The film helped to catapult Bergman to worldwide fame and is one of his most enduring films. While I do provide an in-depth analysis of the film, I also discuss how it brought up my own childhood memories and made me reflect on my painful loneliness, alienation, and disconnection. Consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. Subscribe to the Her Head in Films Newsletter. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. Original artwork by Dhiyanah Hassan Full show notes: Ingmarbergman.se article on Wild Strawberries Bergman's Images: My Life in Film Bergman's The Magic Lantern Peter Cowie essay on Criterion.com

In this episode, I try something new by talking about the first two episodes of the HBO limited series, "Sharp Objects." This is more than just an episode recap. It's a personal exploration of the ways in which the show represents memory, trauma, mental illness, and complicated women characters. I discuss why I can't get the show out of my system and why I felt the need to talk about it. I will cover this series as it unfolds on HBO, bringing you an in-depth analysis every two weeks that will cover the last two episodes of the show. Consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. Subscribe to the Her Head in Films Newsletter. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. Original artwork by Dhiyanah Hassan

In this episode, I talk about Ingmar Bergman's 1951 film "Summer Interlude." It's about Marie, a young ballet dancer who receives the diary of a young man with whom she had a passionate love affair in her teens. The diary plunges her back into memories of their brief and tragic romance. I explore themes of love, loss, mourning one's childhood, how we build up walls to keep out pain, and much more. Consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. Subscribe to the Her Head in Films Newsletter. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. Original artwork by Dhiyanah Hassan Full show notes: More information about Feminist Popcorn Images: My Life in Film by Ingmar Bergman ingmarbergman.se article on Summer Interlude More about The Red Shoes More about Ballet Russes Black Swan Carlos Saura's Blood Wedding Carlos Saura's Fados My episode on The Tango Lesson by Sally Potter L.P. Hartley's The Go-Between My episode on Summertime by David Lean My episode on Birth by Jonathan G

In this episode, I explore the mystery and power of Jonathan Glazer's 2004 masterpiece, "Birth." This is the most important episode I've ever produced for the podcast. This is the film that defines me, that I can't get out of my system, that has haunted me for over a decade. I have never identified so profoundly with a character as I do with the woman in this film. She is Anna (played by Nicole Kidman), a widow who encounters a 10-year-old boy who claims to be the reincarnation of her dead husband, Sean. For me, "Birth" is a film about grief and ghosts and how we can't always let go of the dead. I talk about my own struggle with grief, how this film is part of my soul, and quote Joan Didion and James Joyce as I chart the emotional impact of this unforgettable movie. Consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. Subscribe to the Her Head in Films Newsletter. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. Original artwork by Dhiyanah Hassan Full show notes: A

In this episode, I explore Gena Rowlands's raw and uncompromising performance as Mabel Longhetti in John Cassavetes's 1974 film, "A Woman Under the Influence." Mabel is a woman struggling with mental illness and coming apart in the midst of family turmoil. I talk about why Cassavetes's work was so groundbreaking and provide details about his and Rowlands's relationship. The heart of the episode is my in-depth analysis of Rowlands's acting in the film and why I think she gives one of the greatest performances of all time. I also talk about my recent move, my own struggle with mental illness, the suicides of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain, and I expand on my previous ideas about a Cinema of the Unruly Woman. Consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. Subscribe to the Her Head in Films Newsletter. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. Original artwork by Dhiyanah Hassan Full show notes: Listen to Episodes Mentioned: House of Sand and Fog The Piano Teacher

In this episode, I explore Michael Haneke's 2001 film, "The Piano Teacher." Isabelle Huppert gives one of the greatest acting performances of all time as a masochistic piano teacher who becomes involved with one of her students. If you have not seen this film, I insist that you watch it before listening to this episode. There are spoilers. This episode also contains graphic sexual content. Consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. Subscribe to the Her Head in Films Newsletter. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. Original artwork by Dhiyanah Hassan Full show notes: Listen to episodes mentioned: Pan's Labyrinth Late Spring La Ceremonie Come and See Taste of Cherry Sophie's Choice Interviews with Michael Haneke Slant Magazine The Telegraph Film Comment The Independent Interviews with Isabelle Huppert The Independent The Guardian, 2017 The New York Times Roger Ebert The Independent, 2018 The Telegraph

In this episode, I explore Yasujiro Ozu's 1949 classic, "Late Spring." Setsuko Hara stars as 27-year-old Noriko who feels a strong bond with her widower father and prefers to live with him instead of getting married. Worried that he will doom his daughter to an unfulfilling life, Noriko's father claims that he intends to re-marry and insists that Noriko have a life of her own with a husband. I talk about Ozu's life, why his directing style is unique, and why this film moves me so deeply. I focus on the relationship between Noriko and her father, and I question why we prioritize romantic love and often do not acknowledge the power of other kinds of love, like that for our parents or our friends. Consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. Subscribe to the Her Head in Films Newsletter. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. Original artwork by Dhiyanah Hassan Full show notes: Paul Schrader's essay about Ozu on Film Comment Senses of Cinema profile of Ozu Essa

In this episode, I continue my exploration of films that helped me through my grief after my father died in 2006. "The Lives of Others" is an important film in my life. I have intense memories of watching it for the first time in a theater. It's about playwright, Georg Dreyman, and his lover, Christa-Maria Sieland, who come under surveillance in 1984 in the German Democratic Republic (GDR). After WWII, Germany was split between West Germany and East Germany, the latter being controlled by the Soviet Union. It was a repressive government that used a secret police known as the Stasi to turn everyday people into informants through threats, interrogation, and violence. I talk about why this film is so important due to its examination of themes like surveillance and how people resist (or don't resist) under a repressive government. Consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. Subscribe to the Her Head in Films Newsletter. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. Ori

After my father died in 2006, my mom and I lost ourselves in the films shown at a local discount theater. In this episode, I talk about Guillermo del Toro's "Pan's Labyrinth," a movie I saw in that theater and one that left a lasting impression on me. This episode is deeply personal. It's not just about "Pan's Labyrinth." It's also about grief, mental illness, my love of cinema, and much more. It even features an interview with my mom. She's making her very first appearance on the podcast! We talk about why films were such a comfort to us as we struggled to cope with our grief. Consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. Subscribe to the Her Head in Films Newsletter. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. Original artwork by Dhiyanah Hassan Show notes, including meditation resources: The Honest Guys meditations on Spotify and YouTube A list of meditation apps compiled by me Oceanscapes Playlist by Spotify Gentle Rains Playlist by Spotify Film Soun

In this episode, I explore Donna Deitch's 1985 cult classic, "Desert Hearts." It's about Vivian Bell, who travels to Reno, Nevada in 1959 to get a quickie divorce. While she stays at a ranch for six weeks, she meets the vivacious Cay Rivvers, and the two women fall in love. "Desert Hearts" was one of the first films to represent a lesbian relationship without it ending in tragedy or suicide. Consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. Subscribe to the Her Head in Films Newsletter. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. Original artwork by Dhiyanah Hassan Show Notes: Listen to my series on debut feature films by women directors: Unrelated, A Brand New Life, Losing Ground Desert of the Heart by Jane Rule More about Filmstruck Listen to my other episodes on queer love stories: Blue is the Warmest Color, Moonlight, Call Me By Your Name More information about Kiki The Criterion Collection edition of Desert Hearts Follow Carolyn Petit on Twitter Read Ca

For decades, the work of Kathleen Collins languished in obscurity. She was a writer, filmmaker, and professor who is considered one of the first black women to direct a feature-length film. That film is 'Losing Ground,' an extraordinary portrait of a marriage in turmoil and a complex representation of a deeply intellectual woman in search of ecstasy and magic. In this episode, I explore Collins's life, discuss the barriers that have made it difficult for black women to make films both in the past and today, and I provide an in-depth analysis of 'Losing Ground.' Consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. Subscribe to the Her Head in Films Newsletter. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. Original artwork by Dhiyanah Hassan Show Notes: Listen to more episodes from my debut feature films by women directors series: Unrelated and A Brand New Life Watch 'Losing Ground' on Filmstruck until July 2018 Listen to my episode on Barbara Loden's 'Wanda' Listen to my episode abou

In this episode, I explore Ounie Lecomte's moving 2009 debut feature film, "A Brand New Life." The film is based on Lecomte's own life and centers around a 9-year-old girl who is abandoned by her father at an orphanage in Seoul in 1975. I discuss the film's themes of abandonment, loss, loneliness, and the marginalization of women. I also talk about more general things at the beginning of the episode, like why the Her Head in Films podcast means so much to me and why I am putting so much of myself into it. Please consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. Subscribe to the Her Head in Films newsletter Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. Things Discussed in this Episode: Listen to my series on Formative Art House Films: The Passion of Joan of Arc, La Jetée, Cleo from 5 to 7, L'avventura, Close-Up Watch 'A Brand New Life' for free on Tubi TV (for residents of the United States) Listen to my episode on Joanna Hogg's 2007 film, 'Unrelated' Read Ounie Lecomte

For the month of April, I'm focusing on debut feature films by women directors. I'm kicking off the series with Joanna Hogg's 2007 debut film, "Unrelated." The film explores the emotional crisis of a woman who escapes ostensible marriage problems by going on a vacation in Italy with a friend. It's a subtle but devastating look at loneliness, ageing, and disconnection. There are spoilers in this episode. Please consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. Subscribe to the Her Head in Films newsletter Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. Things cited and discussed in this episode: Watch all three of Joanna Hogg's feature films for free on VUDU: Unrelated, Archipelago, and Exhibition. Listen to my episode on Michelangelo Antonioni's 1960 film, "L'avventura" Joanna Hogg's interview with The Independent in 2007 Joanna Hogg's interview with Kamera in 2008

What happens when cinema becomes an obsession? I explore that question and many more in this episode on Abbas Kiarostami's 1990 genre-blending film, "Close-Up." It revolves around the true story of Hossein Sabzian, a passionate cinephile who deceives a family by impersonating the director, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, and is charged with fraud in an Iranian court. All the people involved in the story play themselves in the film, but, at every turn, Kiarostami blends documentary and fiction and raises questions about the nature of truth and the construction of reality. Not only that, this film is an unforgettable portrait of a man willing to sacrifice everything for cinema. Consider supporting the podcast on Patreon where you can get access to rewards and extras. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. Full show notes: Listen to the other films in my series on formative art house films that changed my life: The Passion of Joan of Arc, La Jetée, Cleo from 5 to 7, and L'avventura. Listen to m