In memory of 
Gene Hackman
(1930-2025)  

Content:  

In this podcast we talk about Roger Spottiswoode's film “Under Fire” (USA 1983) with Gene Hackman. It’s about a photographer in the Nicaraguan conflict in the late 1970s.  

The film sheds light on the moral dilemmas of journalism, in particular the question of neutrality in the midst of a civil war. We emphasize the complexity of the film, which portrays not only journalists but also other actors such as dictators and secret service agents.  

We highlight the continuing relevance of the film as it addresses the problem of moral bias in journalism. Finally, we praise the musical score and declare “Under Fire” one of the 100 best films of all time.  

Plot:  

In the late 1970s, photographer Russell Price (Nick Nolte) reports on the civil war against President Somoza in Nicaragua. Faced with the brutal fighting between the residents and the army, he often finds it difficult to remain neutral. When the guerrillas persuade him to take a photo of their leader, Rafael, he becomes drawn into the events and is forced to take sides.  

As if all that weren’t enough, there’s also a love triangle involving the photographer, a journalist (Joanna Cassidy), and her journalist husband (Gene Hackman).

Content:  

In this podcast, we talk about the Iranian film “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” (2024) by Mohammad Rasoulof that depicts life under the authoritarian Iranian regime based on a family story. The film, nominated for one Oscar, mixes fiction with real footage of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests.  

It focuses on Iman, a judge whose family falls apart due to the disappearance of his gun and the escalating protests. Rasoulof, who shot the film in secret and fled Iran, focuses on the conflict between tradition and rebellion within the family.  

The work is a critique of oppression in Iran, with the sacred fig tree serving as a metaphor for the regime. The film, which won an award at the Cannes Film Festival, is a call for freedom and a confrontation with tyranny.  

Plot:  

The film centers on Iman, a Tehran lawyer newly appointed as an investigating judge in the Revolutionary Court. His promotion, a reward for decades of loyalty, comes with perks—a better salary—and a loaded pistol for "protection," a symbol of his complicity in a brutal system.  

Iman’s wife and the two daughters initially seem to inhabit a typical middle-class household, fraught with everyday tensions. But as protests escalate outside, the cracks within this family widen, mirroring the societal fractures Rasoulof seeks to expose.

Content:  

In this podcast we analyze “Swimming Pool”, a film about the British crime writer Sarah in midlife crisis. Searching for inspiration for her new novel in France, she meets her publisher's daughter, Julie, whose permissive lifestyle fires Sarah's imagination and flows into her new novel. The film plays with reality and fiction, blurring Sarah's novel and the events in the movie, and explores themes of longing, self-discovery and artistic freedom. We emphasize the film's ambiguity and its lasting impact on the viewer.  

This podcast contains major spoilers.  

Plot:  

Sarah Morton is a famous British crime author. She's had enough of London and is looking for inspiration for her new novel. Therefore, she accepts her publisher's offer to stay in his house in the Luberon region of southern France.  

It's the off-season, and Sarah finds that the beautiful rural surroundings and the leisurely pace are just right for writing a new detective novel. Until one late evening, the publisher's carefree French daughter Julie unexpectedly shows up.  

Sarah's brittle and steely English reserve is shaken by Julie's reckless, sexually charged lifestyle. Julie's escapades set off a disturbing series of events.

Content:  

In this podcast, we compare the Danish film “Speak No Evil” from 2022 by Christian Tafdrup with the American remake “Speak No Evil” from 2024 by James Watkins.  

We highlight the notable differences in storytelling and subject matter: while the original provides a socially critical commentary on the Western middle class and leaves an uneasy feeling, the remake offers a more conventional thriller with a happy ending typical of Hollywood.  

We emphasize the almost identical plot in the first hour of both films and then analyze the divergent narrative structures and messages.  

The comparison serves as an example of the different approaches of European and American film productions.  

Plot:  

Speak No Evil (DEN 2022)
A Danish family visits a Dutch family in the Netherlands they met on a holiday. What was supposed to be an idyllic weekend slowly starts unraveling as the Danes try to stay polite in the face of unpleasantness.  

Speak No Evil (USA 2024)
An American family is invited to spend a weekend with a family they met in a lonely British countryside. But as the weekend progresses, the Americans realize that a dark side lies within the British family who invited them.

Content:  

In this podcast, we talk about Marshall Neilan’s 1918 silent film “Stella Maris”, in which Mary Pickford plays a dual role, the rich, paralyzed Stella Maris and the poor orphan girl Unity Blake, demonstrating Pickford’s exceptional acting skills.  

The film features technical innovations, particularly the use of double exposure, and despite its age is remarkable for its plot, acting performances and aesthetic design. The podcast highlights Pickford’s contribution to the development of the female film character and recognizes the film as an important piece of film history.  

Summary:  

Stella Maris is a beautiful, paralyzed girl who is cared for by a wealthy family. She is shielded from the harsh realities of the outside world, so she has no idea about the cruel things some people do. Unity Blake, on the other hand, is a poor orphan who, unlike Stella Maris, knows the harsh reality all too well.  

Both young women fall in love with John, a love that is complicated by the fact that he is still married. Although he has separated from his wife, he cannot bring himself to divorce her.

Content:  

In this podcast, we talk about “Cinderella” and compare this fairy tail and the many film versions with modern rom-coms and argue that both are often wrongly criticized. At their core, the stories are about the personal development of the protagonist, not primarily about the romance.  

Both Cinderella and the heroines of rom-coms strive for independence and self-realization, with love being a positive aspect but not a primary goal. We emphasize the characters' development and their active shaping of their lives, which ultimately lead to a fulfilled life, with or without a romantic relationship.

Content:  

In this podcast, we talk about “Simon Killer” (2012), an American-French movie directed and written for the screen by Antonio Campos.  

The focus is on the character study of the protagonist Simon, whose sociopathic tendencies and their effects on those around him are shown. The film deliberately avoids simple answers and leaves the viewer with Simon's actions and motivations. We highlight the cinematography and editing as excellent, while the plot itself is considered secondary.  

Critics emphasize the film's unforgettable nature and its ability to keep viewers engaged even after repeated viewings.  

Summary:  

The heartbroken American Simon, played by Brady Corbet, travels to Paris to clear his mind.  

After wandering aimlessly for a few days, Simon is lured into a salon where he meets Victoria, an exotic prostitute from the Middle East. The two begin a serious relationship that leads to blackmail, betrayal, and the ultimate revelation of Simon's true nature.

Content:  

In this podcast, we talk about Gints Zilbalodis’ animated film “Flow” from 2024. The film shows animals that have to live together on a boat after a flood and learn to survive together. The animation is stylized, but atmospheric and visually impressive, with nature and the calm camera work taking center stage. The story conveys a message of cohesion and overcoming adversity, and the film has already been nominated for various awards including two Oscars.  

Summary:  

Cat is a loner, and when its home is devastated by a massive flood, it finds refuge on a boat populated by various species.

The world seems to be sinking, and it is teeming with remnants of human presence. Yet, no humans are to be seen. To survive, the different species on the boat, which sails through mystical, flooded landscapes, must come together. Only by doing so can they overcome the challenges and dangers and adapt to this new world.

Content:  

In this podcast, we talk about Billy Wilder's film noir classic “Double Indemnity” (1944). The review describes the plot, in which an insurance salesman and a seductive woman plan a murder, and highlights the acting performances. The background of the film noir genre is also highlighted, particularly the role of women and the influence of German Expressionism. We praise the exciting story, the dialog and the direction. We emphasize “Double Indemnity's” status as a film noir classic.  

Summary:  

Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray) is an experienced insurance salesman. He meets the seductive Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck).  

Walter begins an affair with Phyllis, who is the wife of one of his clients. Phyllis soon suggests killing her husband in order to get the proceeds of an accident insurance policy. Walter devises a diabolical plan to obtain twice the amount of the insurance on the basis of a double indemnity clause.  

When Dietrichson is found dead on a railroad track, the police believe it was an accidental death. However, claims adjuster and Walter's best friend Barton Keyes (Edward G. Robinson) suspects that Phyllis murdered her husband with the help of an accomplice.  

“Double Indemnity” is the film adaptation of a novel by James M. Cain. The author became famous for his book “The Postman Always Rings Twice”. This book was also made into a movie. Lana Turner plays the femme fatale.

Content:  

In this podcast, we talk about Peter Weir's film “Picnic at Hanging Rock” (1975), based on Joan Lindsay's novel of the same name. In our discussion we take a deep dive into this mysterious Australian drama about the disappearance of four schoolgirls and a teacher during an excursion to an old volcano, with the focus less on solving the mystery than on the emotional consequences for those left behind.  

The aesthetic design of the film, with comparative examples from painting and photography, is emphasized, as is the contrast between Victorian society and the Australian landscape.  

The review compares the film thematically to the television show “The Leftovers”, with both works addressing the feeling of abandonment and dealing with inexplicable loss. Ultimately, the film is recognized as a milestone in Australian cinema.  

Summary:  

Based on the acclaimed 1967 novel by Joan Lindsay, the film is a gripping chronicle of the disappearance of students from an Australian girls' school.  

On Valentine's Day in 1900, schoolgirls and teachers go on an excursion to Hanging Rock, a majestic rock formation of volcanic origin.  

While most of the excursionists are exhausted from the carriage ride and the subsequent picnic, four schoolgirls explore the rocks.  

Only one of the four girls returns screaming and distraught. Now a teacher also disappears without a trace. The four women seem to have vanished into thin air. What has happened at Hanging Rock?