#247: Parent Traps, Pt. 1 — Dogtooth

10/13/20 • 63 min

The cloistered familial bubble at the center of Miranda July’s new KAJILLIONAIRE felt reminiscent of the one in Yorgos Lanthimos’ 2009 breakthrough DOGTOOTH, and that was before the film’s introduction of an outsider who contaminates said bubble, a complication carried out to slightly more disturbing ends in DOGTOOTH. In this half of our pairing we dig into the nature of DOGTOOTH’s sadistic parental experiment, whether the film’s highly symbolic premise overwhelms its story, and our respective interpretations of the film’s ambiguous ending. Plus, we respond to some recent listener feedback about parental viewing suggestions and podcast pairing regrets.

Please share your comments, thoughts, and questions about DOGTOOTH, KAJILLIONAIRE, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email to [email protected], or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730.

Works Cited:

• The Movies’ 50 Greatest Pop Music Moments, thedissolve.com

Outro Music: Irene Cara, “What a Feeling”

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Works Cited:

• The Movies’ 50 Greatest Pop Music Moments, thedissolve.com

Outro Music: Irene Cara, “What a Feeling”

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Previous Episode

#246: True/False, Pt. 2 — Dick Johnson is Dead

Kirsten Johnson’s new DICK JOHNSON IS DEAD is a rumination on memory, death, and movie illusion, one that brings the veteran “cameraperson” in front of the lens, alongside her titular father. In that, it’s reminiscent of an earlier essay film with a strongly autobiographical bent, and a similar fixation on what remains after we’re gone: Orson Welles’ F FOR FAKE. In this half of our pairing of the two films, we debate how — or whether — Johnson’s film successfully skirts exploitation of its central subject, before diving into how these two films each tackle matters of authenticity, illusion, and making art in the face of death. Plus, Your Next Picture Show, where we share recent filmgoing experiences in hopes of putting something new on your radar

Please share your comments, thoughts, and questions about F FOR FAKE, DICK JOHNSON IS DEAD, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email to [email protected], or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730.

**Show Notes**

Works Cited:

•”’We Think the Audience is Smarter Than Us’: Kirsten Johnson on Making Another Personal and Original Film With ‘Dick Johnson Is Dead,’ by Matt Prigge (filmmakermagazine.com)

• “Documentarian Kirsten Johnson on Fake-Killing Her Own Dad (Over and Over) in Dick Johnson Is Dead,” by Rachel Handler (vulture.com)

Your Next Picture Show:

• Genevieve: Banksy’s EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP

• Scott: Jacques Cluzaud, Michel Debats, and Jacques Perrin’s WINGED MIGRATION

• Keith: The Tobolowsky Files podcast

• Tasha: Walt Dohrn’s TROLLS WORLD TOUR

Outro Music: Oingo Boing, “Dead Man’s Party”

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Next Episode

#248: Parent Traps, Pt. 2 — Kajillioniare

If you’ve ever wondered, “What if Miranda July made her own version of DOGTOOTH?”, her new film KAJILLIONAIRE would be a pretty good answer. In this half of our pairing of darkly comic films centered on cloistered, dysfunctional families, we parse our reactions to KAJILLIONAIRE before bringing in DOGTOOTH to consider the two films’ respective handling of parenting with an agenda, isolation and the threats of the outside world, and sexuality and romance. Plus, Your Next Picture Show, where we share recent filmgoing experiences in hopes of putting something new on your radar.

Your Next Picture Show:

• Tasha: Dave McCary’s BRIGSBY BEAR

• Genevieve: Todd Haynes’ MILDRED PIERCE and BIG MOUTH season 4

• Scott: Bob Bowen’s PHINEAS AND FERB THE MOVIE: CANDACE AGAINST THE UNIVERSE

• Keith: Matt Spicer’s INGRID GOES WEST and Alan Metter’s GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN

Outro Music: Eurythmics, ‘Would I Lie to You’

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