What does it feel like to lose control of the body? Where might a lack of control over the body lead us? Why do we want control over the body? In this episode, we look at three cinematic instances in which bodily autonomy is threatened and discuss why such depictions evoke various emotional responses. 

The Films:

Alien (1979) directed by Ridley Scot

Swallow (2019) directed by Carlo Mirabella-Davis

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) directed by Don Siegel

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Why do we care about freedom? What does freedom feel like? What do we need to achieve a sense of freedom? In this episode, we take a look at three films that depict the struggle to break free of both literal and metaphorical imprisonment.

The Films:

The Rock (1996) directed by Michael Bay

Pickpocket (1959) directed by Robert Bresson

Ace in the Hole (1951) directed by Billy Wilder

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Why do we wear masks? How do masks affect our relationships with other people? Are there any benefits to being masked? Throughout human history, people have worn masks for various reasons. In this episode, we discuss multiple masked cinematic characters and what face covering suggests about human nature more broadly.

The Films:

Eyes Without a Face (1960) directed by Georges Franju

Goodnight Mommy (2014) directed by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala

The Mask of Zorro (1920) directed by Fred Niblo

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How do empowered women experience love? Is the relationship between love and power gender-specific? How do we want to be loved? In this episode, we analyse three female protagonists, all of which are challenged by the implications their authority has on their respective romantic lives. 

The Films:

Roman Holiday (1953) directed by William Wyler

Chocolat (1988) directed by Claire Denis

Notting Hill (1999) directed by Roger Michell

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When do we start falling in love? Why we take risks in love? Do we ever grow out of our immaturity? Each of this week's films centre on a fifteen year-old girl and explore their respective initial encounters with love, sex and relationships.

The Films"

Fish Tank (2009) directed by Andrea Arnold

It Felt Like Love (2013) directed by Eliza Hittman

Pauline at the Beach (1983) directed by Éric Rohmer

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How has cinema enhanced the 'Beauty and the Beast' fairytale? What is true beastly behaviour? To what extent should beauties embrace (or reject) beasts? Stories centred on female characters confronting their beastly counterparts have been told and re-told for centuries. In this episode, we focus on three films that re-imagine this archetypal dynamic and discuss what they reveal about womanhood, carnal instincts and emotional stability. 

The Films:

Beauty and the Beast (1946) directed by Jean Cocteau 

The Beast (1975) directed by Walerian Borowczyk

The Babadook (2014) directed by Jennifer Kent

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What do werewolves symbolise? Can we outlive our inner demons? What are the consequences of indulging pure evil? In this episode, we discuss the varying ways in which werewolves have been depicted throughout cinematic history and question what their symbolic value suggests about human nature?

The Films:

The Wolf Man (1941) directed by George Waggner

The Wolfman (2010) directed by Joe Johnston

An American Werewolf in London (1981) directed by John Landis

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Why do we hunt each other down? What does a manhunt ultimately achieve? Is it ever dangerous to embark on a manhunt? In this episode, we look at three cinematic examples of the manhunt to identify the origins of this age-old ritual and what it might entail for both the hunter and hunted alike.  

The Films:

Manhunter (1986) directed by Michael Mann

The Fugitive (1993) directed by Andrew Davis

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) directed by Robert Wiene

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What does the Hollywood pilgrimage require? What is the power of Hollywood? How does one succeed on the big stage? Often the subject of its own creations, there is no shortage of films that depict life in Hollywood. In this episode, we take a look at three various cinematic depictions of the Hollywood experience and explore the inner workings of this cultural powerhouse. 

The Films:

Swingers (1996) directed by Doug Liman

Under the Silver Lake (2018) directed by David Robert Mitchell

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) directed by Quentin Tarentino

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What does it take to create something? What is the life of a creator? How should we respond to art and creative expressions? In this episode, we discuss three cinematic depictions of creators and analyse the consequences of their respective creations. 

The Films:

The Golem (1920) directed by Paul Wegener and Carl Boese

8½ (1963) directed by Federico Fellini

Ed Wood (1994) directed by Tim Burton

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