Wigs and Candles

In this episode, Gaby and Andreina discuss the 2022 film Emily, written and directed by Frances O'Connor in her directorial debut. Emily is a part-fictional portrait of English writer Emily Brontë mostly converting the period of her life before she wrote her novel Wuthering Heights. Gaby and Andreina talk about the cinematic representation of Emily as a historical character, Brontë’s relationship with her equally celebrated siblings, and how the film fits within the period film movie genre.

***Spoiler alert! While reviewing this show we go through key scenes and may reveal the ending, so be warned of spoilers!***

Sources & further readings:

Interview with director Frances O’Connor and main cast at the People + Entertainment at TIFF 2022

And because they’re so good, here’s also the Q&A at the TIFF 2022

Film Review from The New York Times

We rarely find a more determined fictional female character in literature from the late 19th century than Bathsheba Everdeen.

Guided by a strong will and a deep-rooted desire to build her path while keeping her full independence, Bathsheba learns the hard way that love and companionship are still not that bad after all.

A film full of breathtaking landscapes, a plot with unexpected twists, and a love story to remember, Far from the Madding Crowd made us think about women's leadership in an unusual time and place as well as the hard choices we sometimes get in life.

***Spoiler alert! While reviewing this film, we go through key scenes and may reveal the ending, so be warned of spoilers!***

Sources and other links:

Carey Mulligan on how she suggested casting Matthias Schoenaerts as Gabriel Oak

https://youtu.be/or_CQ_iAWA8

Carey Mulligan interview

https://youtu.be/jxgCL96ILsg

Making of “Far from the madding crowd”

https://youtu.be/JHhhXcxbwgw

Q&A Session with Thomas Vinterberg and Matthias Schoenarts

https://youtu.be/JbJBZaK7Kio

The Liberator tells the story, in wide strokes, of Simón Bolívar, the military leader, and most important Venezuelan historical figure. In this episode, Gaby and Andreina discuss the 2013 film with the help of a very special guest. Placing the film in the historical and political context in which it was made, we look at the role of historical films in creating a national identity and memory.

Join us as we discuss the relevance of cultural representation on the big screen, the humanisation of a mystified historical figure and the risks of too ambitious screenwriting.

Sources:

The Liberator Interview with actor Edgar RamirezThe Liberator Interview with director Alberto Arvelo (Spanish)
TIFF Interview with director Alberto ArveloGoogle Hangout The Liberator (Spanish)

There’s nothing little in the story of this film nor in the significance of the topics it touches on. Greta Gerwig’s Little Women (2019) is a wonderful, fierce, and modern adaptation of this classic, bringing all the themes that have made it one of the most beloved books of the last 150 years.

Centered on the character of Jo March, an aspiring writer, Little Women tells the story of the March sisters, four deeply loving but very different young women, all trying to find their path in life within the restrictions of 1860s American society.

Join us as we review Little Women with a special guest and talk about feminism, safe female spaces, pervasive gender roles, how they impact men and women, and much more.

***Spoiler alert! While reviewing this film, we go through key scenes and may reveal the ending, so be warned of spoilers!***

Sources and links:

In-depth interview with the director and cast

Greta Gerwig on her idea for the film

In 1909, same-sex relationships were illegal in Great Britain and the consequences of being “caught” were heavy and, at times, catastrophic.

Imagine yourself trapped in that situation of not being able to live your love and passion in freedom–without a doubt, a terrifying, soul-crushing feeling.

The 1987 Merchant-Ivory film Maurice, based on the novel by the same name by E. M. Forster, gives us a glimpse into the asphyxiating constraints early 20th-century British society placed on gay people and their aspirations and desires.

While not necessarily an audience magnet at the time of its release, this film touched us deeply and drove us to have one of the most whole-hearted discussions we’ve had so far in our podcast series.

An impeccable production with stunning performances, Maurice resonates today with an eternal message: follow your heart, follow your true self, for this is the only way to live an honest life.

***Spoiler alert! While reviewing this film we go through key scenes and may reveal the ending, so be warned of spoilers!***

Sources and other links:

Maurice IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093512/?ref_=tt_urv

Roger Ebert's Review of Maurice: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/maurice-1987

Maurice (1987) - Conversation with the Filmmakers: https://youtu.be/1bY9cU7goYo