Double MacGuffin Ep. 4- Savage Messiah (Ken Russell,1972) / Nightwatching(Greenaway,2007)

Henry and I have posted the next episode of our film podcast. Listen on the double macguffin page here…

The theme of this episode is biopics about visual artists.

Henry Griffin chose Ken Russell’s, Savage Messiah (1972) about French sculptor, Henri Gaudier-Brzeska. The film features the young Helen Mirren and Dorothy Tutin.

Jonathan Freilich picked Peter Greenaway’s, Nightwatching (2007) about Rembrandt’s painting of the Nightwatch and the murderous circumstances hidden in the painting. The film stars Martin Freeman as the Dutch master.

Two really interesting movies by iconic and singular British filmmakers.

Episode 2 of the Double MacGuffin with Henry Griffin

This time, on the Double MacGuffin podcast, we talk about ‘The Tree of Wooden Clogs’(Olmi,1978) and ‘The Last Mistress’ (Breillat, 2007). These are two excellent, fascinating, and unusual films that will really get you away from the pandemic and saturation in corona journalism.

More information and the audio is available here…

Conversations Ep.6- Griffin & Freilich on Faces Places by Agnes Varda

This time we review a current film.  Our podcast producer over at Nolascape.org says:

Agnes Varda’s delicious Faces Places (Visages Villages) had a brief run in Zeitgeist, then two showings in the French Film Festival at the Prytania last month. It is available on Amazon download now, for purchase or rental. It is rewarding to see, a few times.

Henry and Jonathan discuss the chemistry between Agnes Varda, with Godard the last of the Nouvelle Vague, and JR – a small woman of 89 years and an active, wiry guy of about 35. JR has a short, high, square van decorated as a giant lens equipped with a photo booth and a printer – I think they are called giclée – that makes poster prints about three feet by five feet that roll out through a  long slot in the side of the van. There is a lot more to this film than the photo van, of course, but making the process immediate and participatory, it catalyzes the interaction. The people are photographed in the booth or in outside scenes, the posters printed and the pasting up done almost immediately with the participation of the subjects and the village. Not just images, the photos are part of an event.

Several of the Agnes Varda films mentioned in the Conversation are on Filmstruck: Murs Murs, Vagabond, Cleo from 5 to 7, La Pointe Courte and Le Bonheur. Filmstruck has 14 Varda films – so far.

I learn a lot from Henry and Jonathan’s discussions, but to get the blend of simplicity and complexity in Faces Places – the visual and emotional charm and challenge of the places, the rapport of JR, who is about 35, and Agnes who is 89, their travels, projects and creative cooperation, somehow mixing successfully with visual and verbal reference to their own works and styles – try to see it.

The podcast is available on iTunes.  Here...

Also directly from Nolascape- here...

Conversations- Griffin & Freilich discuss Morvern Callar (2002)

Another episode of our podcast on film.  This week we are discussing the Scottish film, Morvern Callar.  A fascinating film that you may not have come across.

The podcast feed is available on iTunes, but best through Nolascape.org

They host and produce the show.  There is a growing collection which you can find links to by scrolling down this page.

Happy March to you.

Film Conversations Ep4: 40 Guns w/ Henry Griffin and Jonathan Freilich

40 Guns is a very strange and interesting western by Sam Fuller.  Nolascape, who produces and hosts our show says this:

       What a film.

        I had never seen or even heard of it until Henry and Jonathan put it in the frame for a Conversation.
         

From one point of view, it can look like a collection of horse opera clichés. A pace or two to the side to let the light hit it from another angle, and it is Sophocles set against the unfinished clapboard fronts of a prairie pioneer town instead of the columns of a Mycenaean palace. Are the two bath scenes just non-sequitur comedy skits with cowboy song musical accompaniment, or are they choral interludes in a play of destiny?

Henry and Jonathan will figure it out.

Indeed we will...and do.  And, you should too.  Improve your film buffery...get into the new film buffet- CONVERSATIONS.