The Cinephile's Aisle

London director Oskar Nilsson lost one of his lead actors the day before shooting TAPE. He recast it in 15 minutes.

Steve's out this week, so it's just me and Oskar going through his films, from Father Daughter, which he made at 17 and shot partly on 16mm, to TAPE, an exciting French-language short he shot across Paris and London. We get into why so much of his work circles back to second chances, getting starstruck by the back of Michael Fassbender's head, and the post-credit scene for TAPE that never got made.

He also walks me through THE WAV, his music series with Cole that opens in Taroudant, Morocco. Then it turns into a solid film chat. Oskar gives Nolan's The Odyssey a 9 out of 10, and by the end of our Bond argument I'm conceding ground on Callum Turner.

Chapters
00:00 Oskar's background: Sweden, St Lucia, London
02:48 Early films: Father Daughter to Old Man, Con Man
07:47 Why a young director keeps making films about second chances
10:21 Influences: Steve McQueen, Nolan, Jacques Audiard
12:08 Cassavetes and getting real performances
14:07 Making TAPE in Paris and London
21:04 The TAPE post-credit scene that never got shot
28:08 THE WAV: building a song from scratch in Morocco
39:13 What Oskar's watching: The Bureau and the Pusher trilogy
40:21 Nolan's The Odyssey
46:03 Slow Horses and British spy TV
48:42 Who should be the next Bond?
56:05 What's next for Oskar
57:55 Where to find Oskar

Follow Oskar
Instagram: @dir.oskar
TAPE: @tapeshortfilm
Website: nilssonfilms.com

My recommendation from the episode: If I Go, Will They Miss Me

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Before The New York Times inevitably completes its $300M acquisition of Letterboxd and puts reviews behind a paywall, Ofili and Steve decided it was finally time to settle the dilemma: how do you Letterboxd? Some people believe you only reserve 5's for masterpieces, some believe 3.5 star is the average, while some believe you should never put a heart on a 1-2 star film. Ofili and Steve explain what their hearts on a movie mean. They also list out their various ratings for different movies, including Ofili's insistence that SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION is not a 5 star movie. Fun episode for anyone who's seen any film ever!

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TCA returns to break down Steven Spielberg’s new alien film, Disclosure Day, debating whether it delivers the emotional and world-building highs expected from his sci‑fi legacy. They also discuss the movie’s themes of truth, faith, government secrecy, and humanity uniting amid looming world conflict, while questioning whether “disclosure” alone is satisfying without showing what happens next. Let us know what you think via any of the links below!

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"Lights, Camera, Action," or in 2026, Ballet, Opera, Cats! As what must be the longest awards season ever comes to a close, TCA joins in on the fun(?) with our annual ballots! Will SINNERS - the most nominated film ever - take home the big one? Will F1 join FORD v FERRARI as racecar films to take Film Editing away from the Best Picture winner? Is the third time the charm for bad-boy-of-the-month Timothée Chalamet? Listen to Ofili, Misgana, and Steve argue it all and let us know what you think!

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Steve (one-half of TCA) taps on TMT, co-host of SubmaRoach, and Ese, PM at Fatherland, to discuss all things MY FATHER'S SHADOW. Both making their TCA Debuts, we start off with learning more about their creative journey so far before shifting gears into Nigeria's first official selection at the Cannes Film Festival by the Davies Brothers. What exactly does June 12, 1993 mean to the nation? Is the character Folarin dead or alive? What was the reasoning behind including the Abike plotline? Dive into this episode  (our best yet) to get your answers and more in this TCA must-watch!

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TCA favorite Ikem Okeke, writer and director of HUSBANDRY (2021), returns to TCA as part of #TCAShorts, a segment where we highlight filmmakers whose works include short films. Okeke talks the artists he is influenced by, the stories he is inspired by, and questions he wishes to ask (or answer) through art. TCA then switches gears into A24's sport odyssey, MARTY SUPREME. Timothée Chalamet, a Safdie divorce, and somehow 2008 NBA champion Kevin Garnett are at the forefront of this conversation. Stick around till the end to hear what each host is excited for in 2026, and a very special announcement!

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One of the most anticipated film years ahead, buckle up for 2026. We get into this year's most anticipated releases (10:07), starting with Anne Hathaway's massive upcoming slate (10:47) and a debate about whether Greta Gerwig's evolution from indie filmmaker to mainstream director is something to celebrate or question (16:31). We preview the blockbusters everyone's talking about (23:27) and ask if franchise fatigue is real with major releases on hold or returning (26:17). From The Odyssey to Wuthering Heights and everything in between (26:42), we cover what's worth the hype. The conversation heats up when we discuss the explosion of music biopics, including that controversial Michael Jackson movie (28:28), and then land on our most spirited debate: has A24 officially gone mainstream or are they still the indie champion we fell in love with? (34:46). We wrap things up talking film festivals and why smaller productions still matter (45:27), plus give you the full 2026 release calendar breakdown (47:43).

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"If there was a real version of ETERNITY, do you think you've lived your happiest years?" 

TCA (with Misgana promoted to co-host!) are not pulling back punches with A24's afterlife romantic comedy centered around life after death. Starting off with this recent wave of 'throuple' films (7:00), you can listen to Steve's fascination with 'yaoi' and 'yuri' before Misgana shares her frustrations with Joan, the lead character, and her recklessness (13:20). Ofili introduces the two versions of love that shaped Joan's decision making (29:30), the trio marvel at the film's set design (50:40), and wrap up on the question of comfort in death vs the anxiety of the uncertain (55:30). TCA Verdict: 7.3/10.

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One of the best movies,If you need a good cry

SPOILER ALERT: Episode contains key plot details from 'Sentimental Value.' Join us as we welcome special guest Ayisha for a deep dive into Trier’s emotionally charged film 'Sentimental Value.' We discuss the absence of Steve (0:10), Aisha’s recent cinephile adventures (1:00), and the struggles with film releases in different countries (06:20). The conversation covers initial reactions and film synopsis (14:50),the house as a character in film(25:50),exploring the intersection of architecture and memory(25:30), and  the complexity of family relationships(35:03 ). For our recommendations, we dig into films that resonate with similar themes (58:39).

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Why Die My Love Left Us Wanting

SPOILER ALERT: Episode contains key plot details from Die My Love.

Join TCA as we dive into Die My Love, a film that reaches for emotional intensity while wrestling with structure and perspective. We start with our immediate reactions to the film and how quickly its tone repositions your expectations (00:00), then move into the visual choices and subliminal cues that shape its atmosphere (19:59). We examine why the story feels both packed with ideas and strangely underdeveloped (20:33), and at 21:00 we explore its portrayal of postpartum decline and how closely it connects to real emotional experiences without always earning the weight it aims for. Thoughts on the nonlinear narrative come next (24:12), followed by a closer look at the lead performances and the chances they have in awards season conversations (27:26). We close with the psychological unraveling of the central relationship (30:52) and wrap with a few recommendations for what to watch next, including All Her Fault and Guillermo Del Toros Frankenstein (36:29). 

TCA Verdict: a divided room, striking ideas, and a film that never fully settles into itself.

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