TFV Network

his episode of the Showcast features TFV's Matt Micucci's conversation with director Aude Léa Rapin, the visionary director behind "Planet B," the opening film of the Critics' Week section of the 2024 Venice Film Festival.

With this film, Rapin presents a sci-fi movie grounded in realism, following a group of eco-activists who find themselves trapped in a mysterious and nightmarish world.

In our conversation, we discuss how the film was inspired by the social and political tensions of our time, blending these elements with the rise of technology to create a haunting vision of a not-so-distant dystopian future.

Join us as we explore how Rapin managed to blur the lines between reality and imagination, pushing the boundaries of sci-fi in her first venture within this genre. And in addition to talking about "Planet B," we'll take a look into her journey from documentary filmmaking to fiction.

Follow us for more podcast conversations and audio reviews.

CHAPTERS

(00:00) Introducing "Planet B" and director Aude Léa Rapin

(01:55) Early memories of cinema

(03:42) Journalism and documentary background

(05:05) The origins of "Planet B"

(09:05) Exploring science fiction

(12:24) Thoughts on Georges Méliès

(13:17) Visual style

(15:07) A not-so-distant dystopian future

(17:04) Technological threats

(19:00) Outro

Welcome to "The Cinephile Corner," a regular series where TFV's Matt Micucci dives into a randomly selected film, sharing his opinion on a wide range of classics and hidden gems in two minutes or less, in the name of insatiable cinephilia. Tonight's film is "The Gold of Naples" from 1954, directed by Vittorio De Sica. The review coincides with the screening of the film in the Venice Classics section of the 2024 Venice Film Festival.

CHAPTERS

(00:00) Intro

Welcome to "The Cinephile Corner," a regular series where TFV's Matt Micucci dives into a randomly selected film, sharing his opinion on a wide range of classics and hidden gems in two minutes or less, in the name of insatiable cinephilia. Today's film is "The Cranes Are Flying" from 1957, directed by Mikhail Kalatozov.

Welcome to "The Cinephile Corner," a regular series where TFV's Matt Micucci dives into a randomly selected film, sharing his opinion on a wide range of classics and hidden gems in two minutes or less, in the name of insatiable cinephilia. Today's film is "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" from 2004, directed by Adam McKay.

Welcome to TFV on Point, a new podcast series turning reviews from TFV's leading industry film critics into audio broadcasts. The show is hosted by Sarah Vianney.

In the first episode of the series, we turn our attention to three films screened in the program of the 2024 Locarno Film Festival: "Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry," directed by Elene Naveriani; "Shambhala," directed by Min Bahadur Bham; and "Reinas," directed by Klaudia Reynicke.

To read the full reviews of these films and other titles presented at the 2024 Locarno Film Festival, visit https://thefilmverdict.com/

CHAPTERS

(00:00) Intro

(00:27) "Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry" review

(01:34) "Shambhala" review

(02:28) "Reinas" review

(03:10) Outro

Welcome to "The Cinephile Corner," a regular series where TFV's Matt Micucci dives into a randomly selected film, sharing his opinion on a wide range of classics and hidden gems in two minutes or less, in the name of insatiable cinephilia.

In this episode of the Showcast, TFV's Matt Micucci dives deep into one of the most talked-about films from the 2024 Locarno Film Festival's out-of-competition lineup, "Fréwaka." Join us as we sit down with Aislinn Clarke, the director of this haunting horror film that explores Irish mythology, as well as some of the darker corners of the country's history and personal trauma. We discuss the film's inspiration, and the significance of it being an Irish-language production featuring an almost all-female cast and crew. Plus, we delve into the power of horror as a cinematic genre for storytelling and catharsis.

CHAPTERS

(00:00) Introduction

(01:43) Meeting Aislinn Clarke

(04:31) The power of horror

(05:48) Exploring Irish trauma with horror

(07:30) Making an Irish language horror film

(09:20) The female gaze

(10:58) Finding the right cast

(12:18) The visual style

(14:17) The music

(16:05) Outro

Welcome to "The Cinephile Corner," a regular series where TFV's Matt Micucci dives into a randomly selected film, sharing his opinion on a wide range of classics and hidden gems in two minutes or less, in the name of insatiable cinephilia.

Today's film is "A Few Good Men" from 1992, directed by Rob Reiner.

In the latest episode of the Showcast, TFV's Matt Micucci is joined by the talented filmmaker César Díaz. His latest film, "Mexico 86," is screening in the Piazza Grande section of the 2024 Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland. The film tells the gripping story of a Guatemalan rebel activist, forced to flee to Meixco to save her life in her battle against her country's corrupt military dictatorship. Throughout the movie, we follow her dilemma, as she is torn between her duties as a mother and her relentless commitment to the revolutionary cause. Díaz's powerful narrative not only dives into the personal sacrifices of activists but also challenges us with the difficult choices they face. In our conversation, the filmmaker also shares the deeply personal origins of this story, which draws inspiration from his own life and the experiences of his mother. The director also sheds light on why it's crucial to honor those who devote their lives to transforming society and the often unseen sacrifices they endure. In addition, we dive into how Díaz skillfully plays with the thriller genre, developing his unique cinematic, including by drawing from his extensive experience in film editing. We also discuss his collaboration with "Mexico 86"'s lead actress, Berenice Bejo. (Photo: Need/Tripode)

CHAPTERS

(00:00) Introduction

Welcome to The Cinephile Corner! Every day, TFV's Matt Micucci dives into a randomly selected film, sharing his opinion on a wide range of classics and hidden gems in two minutes or less, in the name of insatiable cinephilia.

Today's film is "American Fiction" from 2023, directed by Cord Jefferson.