FRED Film Radio - English Channel

PODCAST | Chiara Nicoletti interviews Abe Forsythe, director of the film Little Monsters.

Abe Forsythe is at the 2019 London Film Festival with his zom-com (zombie comedy) Little Monsters starring Lupita Nyongo, Alexander England and Josh Gad. Forsythe reveals that the character of the kindergarten teacher played by Lupita Nyongo is actually inspired by his son’s real teacher and that gives a great heart to the comedy. This teacher, trying to get her kids safe while being attacked by an orde of zombies is definitely a new kind of superhero, the one all parents are meeting everyday at their children’s school. Who would I want to be taking care of my kids during a zombie apocalypse? The answer is clear for Abe Forsythe. As Little Monsters could be considered a comedy, a zombie movie, an horror film because of its mixing genres, Forsythe talks about the balance he had to work on in the editing room especially when it came to Josh Gad’s character who was even more extreme than what we see on screen.

Little Monsters follows Dave (Alexander England), a washed-up musician who volunteers to chaperone his nephew’s kindergarten class field trip after taking a serious liking to the fearless schoolteacher, Miss Caroline (Lupita Nyong’o). Dave’s intentions are complicated by the presence of the world’s most famous kids’ show personality and competition for Miss Caroline’s affections, Teddy McGiggle (Josh Gad). One thing none of them bargained for, however, is a sudden zombie outbreak. Will Dave rise to the occasion and have a chance at Miss Caroline’s heart, or will the zombies get there first?

To discover more about the film, click here.

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PODCAST | David Martos interviews Rupert Goold, director of the film Judy.

Rupert Goold describes how he helped Renée Zellweger transform into Judy Garland, helped by some audio recordings of the real actress. He refers to the Oscar talk sorrounding the film too.

Judy is a 2019 biographical drama film about the life of American actress and singer Judy Garland in 1969 as she arrives in London for a run of sell-out concerts at the Talk of the Town. Directed by Rupert Goold, it is an adaptation of the Olivier- and Tony-nominated West End and Broadway play End of the Rainbow by Peter Quilter. The film stars Renée Zellweger as Garland, with Jessie Buckley, Finn Wittrock, Rufus Sewell, and Michael Gambon in supporting roles.

The post Rupert Goold – Judy #ZFF2019 appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

PODCAST | David Martos interviews Nicolaj Coster-Waldau and Jonas Alexander Arnby, actor and director of the film Suicide Tourist.

The interviewees talk to FRED about the debates that the film raises (such as euthanasia), and Coster-Waldau addresses his life as an actor after his huge Game of Thrones success.

Suicide Tourist: Ever since Max learned about his incurable brain tumor and the associated threat of a personality change, he has tried, one way or another, to take his own life. Although he has not yet reached the age of 50, and is in a harmonious relationship with his girlfriend Lærke, he wants to end his life before he is no longer himself. When one day he stumbles across a euthanasia organization’s offer, his curiosity is aroused: it promises a beautiful and honorable end to life with professional guidance, in a remote mountain hotel. There is one catch: once one has signed the contract with “Hotel Aurora”, there is no turning back. Danish director Jonas Alexander Arnby sends his main actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau on an equally daring and sensual journey between life and death in this mystery drama.

The post Nicolaj Coster-Waldau, Jonas Alexander Arnby – Suicide Tourist #ZFF2019 appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

PODCAST | Nicolò Comotti interviews Ursula McFarlane, director of the film Untouchable.

Internationally acclaimed director Ursula McFarlane, along with journalist and friend Neptune Ingwersen, sits down with us to talk about her latest work: Untouchable. The untouchable in question is none other than the former king of American independent cinema Harvey Weinstein. McFarlane’s film sheds a mature and shocking light on the systematic patterns that the producer used throughout the years to take advantage of young actresses and their dream of being part of the starry Hollywood world.

Untouchable: Visionary. Mogul. Bully. Monster. With his company Miramax, Harvey Weinstein achieved a brilliant breakthrough in the late 1980s to become one of the most influential producers in the American film industry. Until it all came crashing down with a barrage of allegations: harassment, blackmail, sexual assault, rape. How is it possible that it has taken more than three decades for Weinstein’s unscrupulous house of cards to collapse? What role did we play as a society? Based on the testimony of investigative journalists, former employees and the courageous female prosecutors, filmmaker Ursula Macfarlane records the incredible story of a rapid ascent – and an even deeper fall.

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PODCAST | Nicolò Comotti interviews Marjane Satrapi, director of the film Radioactive.

Marjane Satrapi’s latest film, Radioactive, is here in Zurich in the festival’s Gala Premiere selection. A biopic that focuses on the genius and incredible life of two-time Nobel laureate Marie Curie, Radioactive goes beyond the sheer simplicity of depicting the scientist’s life to show the influences that her work has had on our past and continues to do so for our future.

Radioactive: In the 1890s, Maria Sklodowska is one of only a few women of her time to study physics. For this purpose, the highly intelligent 24-year-old Warsaw-born woman is forced to move to Paris. When she meets fellow physicist Pierre Curie at university, she finally meets someone with whom she can discuss, argue and eventually fall in love with. While working together, the two make several scientific discoveries, the significance of which they cannot even begin to imagine. Marjane Satrapi’s biopic Radioactive is based on the graphic novel by Lauren Redniss. Interspersed with spellbinding animated sequences, the film tells the story of the life and impact of Marie Curie, the only woman to ever win a Nobel Prize in two disciplines, and yet had to face an endless struggle for recognition in a male-dominated domain.

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PODCAST | Nicolò Comotti interviews Katharine Gun and Martin Bright, real protagonists of the film Official Secrets.

They talk to FRED about the real disclosure of secret materials in 2003 that led to a media investigation on the Iraqui War. Katharine Gun worked for the British Government and Martin Bright was leading investigator for The Observer newspaper. Their roles are played by Keira Knightley and Matt Smith.

Official Secrets: Winter, 2003. As politicians in Britain and the US angle to invade Iraq, British Government Communications Headquarters translator Katharine Gun leaks a classified e-mail that urges spying on members of the UN Security Council to force through the resolution to go to war. Charged with breaking the Official Secrets Act, and facing imprisonment, Katharine and her lawyers set out to defend her actions. With her life, liberty and marriage threatened, she must stand up for what she believes in. Featuring brilliant performances by Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes and Matt Smith, director Gavin Hood recounts the far-reaching consequences of an illegal dissemination of truth. The film is based on the true story of whistle-blower Katherine Gun.

The post Katharine Gun, Martin Bright – Official Secrets #ZFF2019 appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

PODCAST | Nicolò Comotti interviews Ben Asamoah, director of the film Sakawa.

Ben Asamoah tells FRED Film Radio about the incredible story behind his film Sakawa, a powerful documentary that shows the reality behind Ghanaian internet scams and yet goes well beyond these preconditions by telling a story of people trying to have a respectable life for themselves and their dear ones, while linking the other side of the world that may be wealthy but is deprived of love and compassion.

Sakawa: Their workplace is a shabby living room. Western electronic waste found at dumping sites in Ghana as well as the naivety of desperate singles in Europe and America are their resources. For these young Internet fraudsters portrayed in Sakawa, it is easy to access data and images left on negligently disposed smartphones and hard disks. They use fake profiles to search for “clients” and, with a few seductive tricks and a little bit of voodoo magic they tease money from their pockets – nonetheless they remain unwealthy. Belgian-Ghanaian director Ben Asamoah offers access to a world otherwise hidden behind the subject lines of countless unopened spam emails. Without judgment, Asamoah follows the unusual and questionable work routine of young Ghanaians who have nothing to lose. An amusing yet deeply sobering insight into the absurdity of global injustice.

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PODCAST | David Martos interviews Sarah Gavron and Theresa Ikoko, director and writer of the film Rocks.

Gavron and Ikoko talk to FRED about their collaboration to depict a generation that is not being seen and heard. Both of them describe the daily work with the young actresses in the film.

Rocks: Rocks (15) is a teenage girl with big dreams for the future, loyal fun friends and an adoring, though mischievous, little brother, Emmanuel (7). Rocks enjoys school (as much as any teenager does) and lives a full vibrant life in East London with her team of London-centric best mates. Rocks’ world is turned upside down when she returns from school to find her mum gone, leaving some cash and a note offering little explanation except that she is sorry.

To discover more about the festival, click here.

The post Sarah Gavron, Theresa Ikoko – Rocks #67SSIFF appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

PODCAST | David Martos interviews Tim Roth, actor of the film The Song of Names.

Roth talks about his personal and familiar experience with the Holocaust. He refers to his long collaboration with Quentin Tarantino and explains why he was cut out from Once upon a time in Hollywood.

The Song of Names: Tim Roth and Clive Owen star in an emotional detective story spread over two continents and a half century. Beneath the film’s stunning and pulsing musical revelations burn the horror of a war and the lost souls extinguished from history. Clearly made by folks who are passionate about classical music, The Song of Names adapts music critic Norman Lebrecht’s acclaimed novel of the same name for the big screen, producing — in the hands of director Francois Girard (The Red Violin, Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould) and composer Howard Shore, among others — a Holocaust-themed requiem.

To discover more about the festival, click here.

The post Tim Roth – The Song of Names #67SSIFF appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

PODCAST | David Martos interviews François Girard, director of the film The Song of Names.

The director explains why he decided to adapt the novel, his work with Tim Roth and how technology pushes us apart from memory. The film The Song of Name, he confirms, talks about the power of memory.

The Song of Names: Tim Roth and Clive Owen star in an emotional detective story spread over two continents and a half century. Beneath the film’s stunning and pulsing musical revelations burn the horror of a war and the lost souls extinguished from history. Clearly made by folks who are passionate about classical music, The Song of Names adapts music critic Norman Lebrecht’s acclaimed novel of the same name for the big screen, producing — in the hands of director Francois Girard (The Red Violin, Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould) and composer Howard Shore, among others — a Holocaust-themed requiem.

To discover more about the festival, click here.

The post François Girard – The Song of Names #67SSIFF appeared first on Fred Film Radio.