She thinks a homeless stranger is her husband, missing since WWII. Is she right — or just desperate to believe? 🎬

On this episode of Split Focus Podcast, we review "The Long Absence" (Une Aussi Longue Absence), Henri Colpi's 1961 Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or co-winner (shared with Buñuel's Viridiana) — one of the most obscure and hard-to-find Palme d'Or winners ever. Written by Marguerite Duras (Hiroshima Mon Amour), this quiet post-war drama follows a Parisian café owner convinced a wandering amnesiac vagrant is her long-lost husband, taken by the Gestapo 16 years earlier.

We explore the film's heartbreaking story, its themes of memory, identity, post-war trauma, and enduring love, while breaking down its unforgettable ending and discussing why this overlooked masterpiece deserves far more recognition.

If you love classic cinema, international films, Cannes winners, and thoughtful movie analysis, this episode is for you.

🎬 Subscribe for weekly deep dives into every Palme d'Or winner, hidden cinematic masterpieces, and the stories behind the world's greatest films.

#TheLongAbsence #UneAussiLongueAbsence #FilmAnalysis #ClassicCinema #WorldCinema #PalmeDor #CannesFilmFestival #MoviePodcast #FrenchCinema #EndingExplainedEP.

15 - The Long Absence (1961)

"Une Aussi Longue Absence"

Directed by Henri Colpi

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Email: [email protected]

Hosts:

Briana Bard

https://letterboxd.com/chunkmangione/

@thebrianabard on all other platforms

Craig Kirker

https://letterboxd.com/pookiebooty/

Intro/Outro Music :

Watchin by Nicholas Creus - Vivendo Fit

Can a masterpiece survive being completely banned and burned by fascists? 🔥

In this episode of The Split Focus Podcast, we’re diving deep into Luis Buñuel's infamous 1961 Palme d'Or winner, Viridiana! From its shocking ties to the Vatican's ultimate denouncement to the unbelievable story of how the physical film itself was secretly buried to survive, this cinematic classic is a wild ride of dark humor, surrealism, and absolute debauchery.

What you can expect from this video:

- The Craziest Film History: How Viridiana survived the Franco regime and censorship.

The "Cinema" vs. "Movie" Verdict: Does this 90-minute black-and-white epic still hold up in 2026?

- Hilarious Letterboxd Reviews: We read some of the best (and most unhinged) reactions to the film.

Whether you're a hardcore cinephile looking to unpack deep theology or just love wild movie trivia, you won't want to miss our take on humanity's darkest impulses.

👉 Drop a comment: Is Viridiana a masterpiece of cinema, or is it just too cynical?

Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit that notification bell for more deep dives into the greatest international film festival winners in history! 🔔

IG/TT/YT: splitfocus_podcast

Email: [email protected]

Hosts:

Briana Bard

https://letterboxd.com/chunkmangione/

@thebrianabard on all other platforms

Craig Kirker

https://letterboxd.com/pookiebooty/

Intro/Outro Music :

Watchin by Nicholas Creus - Vivendo Fit

Hallelujah Chorus - George Frideric Handel

Tabernacle Choir at the Temple Square, Utah Symphony Orchestra, Joseph Silverstein, cond.

Decca, recorded live in the Tabernacle, c1991

TW: This conversation contains mentions of suicide.

Help is available - Speak with someone today

Dail 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.

Available 24/7 in English and Spanish

#Viridiana #LuisBuñuel #CannesFilmFestival #FilmReview #PalmedOr #MoviePodcast #TheSplitFocusPodcast #ClassicCinema #Surrealism

In this episode of Split Focus, we dive into A Man and a Woman, the 1966 Palme d'Or-winning romance from director Claude Lelouch. We explore the film's groundbreaking blend of color and black-and-white photography, unforgettable score, themes of grief and healing, and why this deceptively simple love story became both a Cannes and Academy Award winner.

Join us as we break down the film scene-by-scene, discuss its emotional impact, and examine whether this French New Wave classic still resonates with modern audiences.

🎬 Topics include:

Cannes Film Festival history

Claude Lelouch's directing style

Romance and grief in cinema

Visual storytelling and editing

#FilmAnalysis #AManAndAWoman #ClaudeLelouch #FrenchCinema #PalmeDor #CannesFilmFestival #CriterionCollection #MovieReview #FilmPodcast #ClassicCinema #FilmDiscussion #CinemaStudies #SplitFocusPodcast

EP. 12 - A Man and a Woman (Un Homme Et Une Femme) (1966)

Directed by Claude Lelouch

TW: This conversation contains mentions of suicide.

Help is available - Speak with someone today

Dail 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.

Available 24/7 in English and Spanish

IG/TT/YT: splitfocus_podcast

Email: [email protected]

Hosts:

Briana Bard

https://letterboxd.com/chunkmangione/

@thebrianabard on all other platforms

Craig Kirker

https://letterboxd.com/pookiebooty/

Intro/Outro Music :

Watchin by Nicholas Creus - Vivendo Fit

How did The Birds, the Bees and the Italians win the Palme d'Or?

In this episode of Split Focus Podcast, we break down one of the most overlooked winners in Cannes history. We discuss the film's three interconnected stories, its biting satire of Italian society, unforgettable comedic moments, and whether this 1966 classic still works for modern audiences.

If you love classic cinema, international films, Cannes winners, and deep movie analysis, this episode is for you.

🎬 New episodes every week as we watch every Palme d'Or winner in random order.

#PalmeDor #ClassicCinema #FilmAnalysis #CannesFilmFestival #ItalianCinema #moviepodcast

EP. 13 - The Bird, The Bee and The Italians

(Original Title: Signore & Signori)

Directed by Pietro Germi

TW: This conversation contains mentions of suicide.

Help is available - Speak with someone today

Dail 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.

Available 24/7 in English and Spanish

IG/TT/YT: splitfocus_podcast

Email: [email protected]

Hosts:

Briana Bard

https://letterboxd.com/chunkmangione/

@thebrianabard on all other platforms

Craig Kirker

https://letterboxd.com/pookiebooty/

Intro/Outro Music :

Watchin by Nicholas Creus - Vivendo Fit

In this episode of the Split Focus Podcast, we dive into Farewell My Concubine (1993), Chen Kaige’s landmark Chinese epic and co-winner of the Palme d’Or at Cannes alongside Jane Campion's The Piano". We explore the film’s unforgettable performances, the world of Peking Opera, themes of identity, love, sacrifice, and how decades of Chinese history shape the lives of its characters. Along the way, we discuss Leslie Cheung’s iconic performance, Gong Li’s impact, and why this film remains one of the most celebrated international movies ever made.

🎬 Topics covered:

Farewell My Concubine symbolism, repetition & themes

Leslie Cheung and Gong Li performances

Queer identity in cinema

The Cultural Revolution and historical context

Why the film won the Palme d’Or

If you love world cinema, arthouse films, Cannes winners, and in-depth movie discussions, this episode is for you.

#FarewellMyConcubine #ChenKaige #LeslieCheung #GongLi #FilmAnalysis #MoviePodcast #WorldCinema #ChineseCinema #CannesFilmFestival #PalmeDor #FilmDiscussion #ArthouseCinema #PekingOpera #MovieReview #SplitFocusPodcast

TW: This conversation contains mentions of suicide.

Help is available - Speak with someone today

Dail 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.

Available 24/7 in English and Spanish

IG/TT/YT: splitfocus_podcast

Email: [email protected]

Hosts:

Briana Bard

https://letterboxd.com/chunkmangione/

@thebrianabard on all other platforms

Craig Kirker

https://letterboxd.com/pookiebooty/

Intro/Outro Music :

Watchin by Nicholas Creus - Vivendo Fit

In this episode of the Split Focus Podcast, we dive into The Piano (1993), the Palme d’Or-winning romantic drama directed by Jane Campion and starring Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, Sam Neill and a Anna Paquin in her debut role.

If you love arthouse cinema, international film, Palme d’Or winners, or thoughtful movie podcasts, this episode is for you.

🎬 In this episode:

Cannes Film Festival history

Jane Campion’s directing style

Why the film remains influential todayHolly Hunter & Anna Paquin performances

Themes of silence, desire, and control

The Piano ending explained

Subscribe for more deep dives into classic cinema, international films, and Palme d’Or winners.

Materials referenced:

Sexism and Misogyny: Who Takes the Rap?

Misogyny, gangsta rap, and The Piano

By bell hooks https://challengingmalesupremacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Misogyny-gangsta-rap-and-The-Piano-bell-hooks.pdf

TW: This conversation contains mentions of suicide.Help is available - Speak with someone today

Dail 988 for the Suicide and Crisis LifelineThe Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.

Available 24/7 in English and Spanish

Credits:

EP. 10 - The Piano (1993)

Directed by Jane Campion

IG/TT/YT: splitfocus_podcast

Email: [email protected]

Hosts:

Briana Bard https://letterboxd.com/chunkmangione/@thebrianabard on all other platforms

Craig Kirker

https://letterboxd.com/pookiebooty/

Intro/Outro Music :

Watchin by Nicholas Creus - Vivendo Fit

Piano excerpt:Evening Fall Piano by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100235Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Ep. 9 - Taste of Cherry (1997)Directed by Abbas Kiarostami

TW: This conversation contains mentions of suicide.Help is available - Speak with someone todayDail 988 for the Suicide and Crisis LifelineThe Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Available 24/7 in English and Spanish IG/TT/YT: splitfocus_podcastEmail: [email protected]: Briana Bardhttps://letterboxd.com/chunkmangione/@thebrianabard on all other platformsCraig Kirker https://letterboxd.com/pookiebooty/Intro/Outro Music : Watchin by Nicholas Creus - Vivendo Fit

EP. 8 - The Eel (1997)

Directed by Shōhei Imamura

IG/TT/YT: splitfocus_podcast

Email: [email protected]

Hosts:

Briana Bard

https://letterboxd.com/chunkmangione/

@thebrianabard on all other platforms

Craig Kirker

https://letterboxd.com/pookiebooty/

Intro/Outro Music :

Watchin by Nicholas Creus - Vivendo Fit

EP. 7 - Man Of Iron (1981)

Directed by Andrzej Wajda

Klassiki - https://klassiki.online/

It is the first subscription service focused solely on cinema from Russia, Ukraine, the Caucasus, and Central Asia for English-speaking audiences.

IG/TT/YT: splitfocus_podcast

Email: [email protected]

Hosts:

Briana Bard

https://letterboxd.com/chunkmangione/

@thebrianabard on all other platforms

Craig Kirker

https://letterboxd.com/pookiebooty/

Intro/Outro Music :

Watchin by Nicholas Creus - Vivendo Fit

EP. 6 Blue Is The Warmest Color (2013)

Starring Adèle Exarchopoulos and Léa Seydoux

IG/TT/YT: splitfocus_podcast

Email: [email protected]

Hosts:

Briana Bard

https://letterboxd.com/chunkmangione/

@thebrianabard on all other platforms

Craig Kirker

https://letterboxd.com/pookiebooty/

Intro/Outro Music : Watchin by Nicholas Creus - Vivendo Fit