First Indy recounts the biography of John Forte and we listen to the evolution of his music, then Samantha talks about the extensive Private novel series by Kate Brian, and finally we prepare for the tearjerking world of Nicholas Sparks and next week’s watch A Walk To Remember.

I Love This You Should Too is hosted by Samantha and Indy Randhawa

Today we are discussing the 1990 romantic comedy Pretty Woman! We debate whether this movie is a step forward or backward for feminism, its class systems, meaningful apologies, retail revenge, happy endings, charm, & more!

Pretty Woman is a 1990 American romantic comedy film directed by Garry Marshall, from a screenplay by J. F. Lawton. The film stars Richard Gere and Julia Roberts, and features Héctor Elizondo, Ralph Bellamy (in his final performance), Laura San Giacomo, and Jason Alexander in supporting roles. The film's story centers on down-on-her-luck Hollywood prostitute Vivian Ward and wealthy businessman Edward Lewis. Vivian is hired to be Edward's escort for several business and social functions, and their relationship develops over the course of her week-long stay with him. The film's title Pretty Woman is based on the 1964 song "Oh, Pretty Woman" by Roy Orbison. It is the first film on-screen collaboration between Gere and Roberts; their second film, Runaway Bride, was released in 1999.

This week we are discussing the Italian romantic classic Cinema Paradiso, including the power of cinema, nostalgia as a prison, whether or not this is a romance, and between whom, the differences between the theatrical and director’s cuts, naughty kids, and more!

Cinema Paradiso is a 1988 coming-of-age comedy-drama film written and directed by Giuseppe Tornatore. Set in a small Sicilian town, the film centres on the friendship between a young boy and an aging projectionist who works at the titular movie theatre. The Italian-French co-production stars Philippe Noiret, Jacques Perrin, Antonella Attili, Pupella Maggio and Salvatore Cascio. The film score was composed by Ennio Morricone and his son, Andrea, marking the beginning of a collaboration between Tornatore and Morricone that lasted until Morricone's death in 2020. Credited with revitalizing Italy's film industry, Cinema Paradiso has been cited as one of the greatest films of all time, and a world cinema classic. The ending is considered among the greatest endings in film history. It was a commercial success, and won several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film[4] and the Cannes Film Festival's Grand Prix. It was nominated for 11 BAFTA Awards and won five; including Best Actor for Philippe Noiret, Best Supporting Actor for Salvatore Cascio, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Foreign Language Film, a record for a foreign language feature until it was broken by All Quiet on the Western Front in 2023.

Indy shares a few of his favourite Mexican novels, like; Pedro Paramo, Like Water For Chocolate, Hurricane Season, & more. Samantha takes the next step in her Outlander fandom as she begins to read Diana Gabaldon’s novels, and we prepare for next week’s feature; the Italian classic Cinema Paradiso! 

I Love This You Should Too is hosted by Samantha and Indy Randhawa

This week we are covering the 80s, (or is it 60s?) dance classic, Dirty Dancing! You know what that means, we discuss reproductive rights, grinding, the work of the proletariat, self-determination, men crying, period pieces, and many more surprising facets of this often misrepresented film.

I Love This You Should Too is hosted by Samantha and Indy Randhawa

Samantha reviews The Witch's Daughter by Paula Brackston, Indy revisits the offbeat 90s TV show Northern Exposure, and we get ready to have the time of our life with next week's dance classic: Dirty Dancing!

I Love This You Should Too is hosted by Samantha and Indy Randhawa

This week we are discussing the 2002 wuxia epic: Hero (英雄). Join us as we talk about the stunning visuals, colorful chapters, understanding martial arts films, political readings, Indy’s love of Tony Leung (and most of the cast, really), Chinese history, and a bunch of other things I’ve already forgotten.

I Love This You Should Too is hosted by Samantha and Indy Randhawa

Hero (英雄, Yīngxióng) is a 2002 wuxia martial arts film directed, co-written, and produced by Zhang Yimou, and starring Jet Li, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi, Donnie Yen and Chen Daoming. The cinematography was by Christopher Doyle, and the musical score composed by Tan Dun. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 75th Academy Awards. The historical background of the film refers to the Warring States Period in ancient China, when China was divided into seven states. In 227–221 BC, the Qin state was about to unify the other six states, assassins from the six states were sent to assassinate the king of Qin. One of the most famous incidents was Jing Ke's attempted assassination of the King of Qin.

We continue our mini Zhang Yimou film festival with the tragic romance Ju Dou (菊豆). We chat about the characters and their place as archetypes and metaphors, the striking visuals, the claustrophobic setting, uncle/fathers, creepy kids, and patriarchy, man. Patriarchy.

I Love This You Should Too is hosted by Samantha and Indy Randhawa

Ju Dou is a 1990 romantic-drama film directed by Zhang Yimou and Yang Fengliang, starring Gong Li as the title character. The film, based on the novel Fuxi, Fuxi (伏羲伏羲) by Liu Heng, is a tragedy that revolves around Ju Dou, a beautiful young woman sold as a wife to Jinshan, an elderly cloth dyer. The film was produced using the vivid Technicolor process, long after it had been abandoned in the United States. It became the first Chinese film to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Upon its release, Ju Dou faced a ban in China, which was eventually lifted in July 1992.

In the first episode of what turned into a mini Zhang Yimou film festival, we discuss the beautiful period drama Raise The Red Lantern (大红灯笼高高挂). We get into its themes of oppressive patriarchy, gorgeous cinematography, common enemies, impactful silences, unintentionally perpetuating your own subjugation, and y’know, pretty lanterns and stuff.

I Love This You Should Too is hosted by Samantha and Indy Randhawa

Raise the Red Lantern is a 1991 period drama film directed by Zhang Yimou and starring Gong Li. It is an adaptation by Ni Zhen of the 1990 novella Raise the Red Lantern (originally Wives and Concubines) by Su Tong. A Chinese-Hong Kong co-production, the film was later adapted into a ballet of the same title by the National Ballet of China, also directed by Zhang. Set during the Warlord Era in the 1920s, the film tells the story of a young woman who becomes the fourth wife of a wealthy man. It was the fourth of nine collaborations between Zhang and Gong. The film was shot in the Qiao Family Compound near the ancient city of Pingyao, in Shanxi Province.

Indy talks about a 90s hip-hop classic: E. 1999 Eternal by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Samantha ends an era with the docuseries Taylor Swift: The End of an Era, then we preview next week’s big watch, the Zhang Yimou period drama Raise the Red Lantern.

Raise the Red Lantern is a 1991 period drama film directed by Zhang Yimou and starring Gong Li. It is an adaptation by Ni Zhen of the 1990 novella Raise the Red Lantern (originally Wives and Concubines) by Su Tong. A Chinese-Hong Kong co-production, the film was later adapted into a ballet of the same title by the National Ballet of China, also directed by Zhang. Set during the Warlord Era in the 1920s, the film tells the story of a young woman who becomes the fourth wife of a wealthy man. It was the fourth of nine collaborations between Zhang and Gong.