For Black History Month, we are exploring the roots of independent African filmmaking. Black Girl serves as a powerful starting point for this journey, tracing the movement of a young Senegalese woman from Dakar to the French Riviera. We discuss Sembène's transition from literature to film as a means of communicating with a non-literate audience, effectively creating a new visual language for a post-colonial era.

Next Week: Oscar Winning Screenwriter Kevin Willmott joins us to discuss his 2004 Mockumentary "CSA: Confederate States of America."

Music

https://youtu.be/NpTyPVbs-64?si=ZMXUHYLQ4Q0ejUI4

https://youtu.be/guexLrL44t0?si=UmYYD5vTdrXkGwz4

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X (Twitter): @etrommater

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The Road to Godard hits the streets of Dakar.

​In this episode of the World Cinema History Podcast, we immerse ourselves in the vibrant, avant-garde energy of Djibril Diop Mambéty’s 1973 landmark, Touki Bouki. Eric Trommater, Erin Brown, Jennifer Trujillo and Sila Blume break it all down. Erin and Eric were rather cold on Godard's Breathless. Will the warmer climate of Senegal warm up them to the same techniques? 

​As part of our Black History Month celebration, we examine how Mambéty’s radical style and jagged editing bridge the physical and psychic gap between Senegal and the elusive dream of the West.

Clips Used: 

Alexander Nakarada Space Ambience 

https://youtu.be/sB6jXSr7_wQ?si=LKAgAfA8tooq41bI

Hello Goodbye. Touki Bouki opening song. Josephine Baker sings "Paris, Paris, Paris." 

https://youtu.be/guexLrL44t0?si=rvCVfQhD8bbFPsTd

Martin Scorsese on Touki Bouki 

https://youtu.be/o555EiqRC10?si=5U41jyqcen-YOd4j

Veggie Tales The Song of the Cebu. 

https://youtu.be/_uv8Ej4CEoQ?si=Dus5IoYU-J8JVCmL

African Drums. No Copyright 

https://youtu.be/LmtCfMncFSk?si=hB-bJzGzzo5ynl_d

Connect With Us:

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X (Twitter): @etrommater

Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club

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Bonus Episodes

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​In this installment of World Cinema History, we move from the historical Road to Godard into the contemporary trenches of independent cinema. We are joined by writer-director Miguel Ángel Ferrer, whose film The Shadow of the Sun—Venezuela’s 2023 Oscar entry—is a study of survival and using your dreams as a roadmap to becoming your best self.

The Roundtable Discussion:

​Bypassing the Permission Slip: Miguel details the conviction required to walk across the Colombian-Venezuelan border on foot to reach his own set after his funding vanished mid-shoot.

​The Short Film Lineage: We trace Miguel’s stylistic development through his short films, deMonica and Innocent Attraction. The panel discusses how these earlier works established the visual frequency and Outlaw spirit that define his current feature work.

​The Unconscious Heritage of Resistance: We discuss Glauber Rocha and the Aesthetics of Hunger, exploring how Miguel captured the natural light and resilience of Venezuela while avoiding the heavily packaged traps of "poverty porn."

​Authentic Frequency: A look at the documentary eye required to bridge the gap between professional actors and raw newcomers like Anyelo Lopez.

​The Peer-to-Peer Interrogation: Jennifer Trujillo, Nicole de Meneses, and Sila Blume join Eric to discuss the evolution of Miguel’s shorts, the ethics of self-financing, and the point of no return on an independent set.

The Historical Bridge:

Host Eric Trommater synthesizes these modern guerrilla hacks with the legacy of Jean-Luc Godard and Italian Neorealism, proving that while the technology changes, the Outlaw contract between the filmmaker and the truth remains the same.

Support the Signal:

Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club. Support the show and get closer to the booth! Benefits include bonus episodes, attending live recordings, and future exclusive perks. Join here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory

​CHAPTERS

0:00 Introducing Miguel Ángel Ferrer: An Outlaw Filmmaker's Journey

1:59 Miguel's Conviction: Self-Financing 'The Shadow of the Sun'

4:51 Achieving High Quality on a Micro-Budget with Community Support

7:27 Anamorphic Lenses & Natural Light: Capturing Venezuela's Landscape

14:21 From Nat Geo to Outlaw: Ingenuity on an 18-Day Shoot

26:25 The Authentic Performance: Discovering Anyelo Lopez for the Film

34:11 Resilience, Not Victimhood: Navigating the Aesthetics of Hunger

46:47 Miguel's Philosophy: Becoming Your Best Self Through Filmmaking

49:48 From 'deMonica' to Feature: Stylistic Development & Unheard Music

57:26 Nuance & Acceptance: Alex's Journey of Self-Discovery

1:10:18 Badass Women & The Thrilling Future of the 'deMonica' Feature

1:18:38 Exploring Faith, Science, and Humanity in Miguel's Films

1:22:41 The Legacy of Outlaw Filmmaking & World Cinema History's Future

​Music Clips Used:

Alma Llanera: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alma_Llanera_-_Instrumental_al_arpa.ogg

Nouth by Jazz B White: https://youtu.be/sB6jXSr7_wQ

Savfk Dramatic and Epic Music: https://youtu.be/XuVK1TSTt6c

Space Ambience by Alexander Nakarada: https://creatorchords.com

INFINITY Epic Futuristic Space Theme: https://youtu.be/4F7sdy2rZws

Ambient Atmosphere: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfP6i5T0-DkIpo7FRcofaXJ0RMIZnQx7M

Public Domain African Music: https://youtu.be/cJjk5aVze1c

"African Royalty" by The Free Cat https://youtu.be/cJjk5aVze1c

Connect With Us:

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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892

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X (Twitter): @etrommater

Next: We begin our celebration of Black History Month with Touki Bouki.

In the first installment of our Road to Godard series, co-hosts Eric Trommater, Erin Brown, and Jennifer Trujillo dive into the 1959 production that changed everything. We’re putting Jean-Luc Godard’s revolutionary Breathless (À bout de souffle) side-by-side with Richard Linklater’s 2025 film, Nouvelle Vague.

While its place in the history of cinema is undeniable, Eric and Erin find themselves largely unimpressed by the film itself. We explore the chaotic energy of the original Paris shoot and the legendary personalities involved—from Jean Seberg and Jean-Paul Belmondo to the critics-turned-directors of Cahiers du Cinéma.

In this episode:

* Historical Weight vs. Personal Taste: Why Eric and Erin aren't fans of the film, despite its massive influence.

* The Seberg Paradox: We discuss why a film leaning on sexist tropes became a sensation among women and female critics like Pauline Kael in 1960.

* The 1959 Production: Jump cuts, stolen scenes, and a revolution on the streets of Paris.

* Linklater’s Nouvelle Vague (2025): A look at the meta-cinematic portrayal of Truffaut, Godard, and the icons of the era.

* Why Breathless remains the definitive—if polarizing—starting point for our Road to Godard series. A sneak peek at future episodes on "La Grande Illusion"(1937), "Children of Paradise"(1945), "Orpheus" (1950), and Godard's own "Weekend" (1967).

CONNECT WITH US

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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892

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X (Twitter): @etrommater

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MUSIC & CLIPS

Music:

Fallen Petals, Shady Business, and Dark Conspiracy via https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music

Space Ambience by Alexander Nakarada: https://youtu.be/sB6jXSr7_wQ?si=DXoxw4XMpnVwDVz8

Nouth Jazz by B. White (1920): https://youtu.be/aM5z0XLRdXc?si=utq9OwLLKLqMRWoZ

Featured Clips:

Eurotrash: How to watch a Godard Film: https://youtu.be/7xSNuGp2Gxs?si=X6THVHfbOakKfc15

Godard on Classic Film Editing: https://youtube.com/shorts/76f6iIpRPco?si=xuyqkhwLvB6kG9Gx

Road to Godard Series: Episode 1 (1959)

​"Isn't life disappointing?"

"Yes, nothing but disappointment."

Thunderstorms descended as Erin Brown, Eric Trommater, Sila Blume, and Jennifer Trujillo gathered to discuss Yasujirō Ozu’s seminal 1953 film, Tokyo Story. As the conclusion to our series on Aging and Mortality in 1950s Cinema, the weather seemed determined to participate; our noise-proofing wasn't quite up to the task of keeping the storm at bay.

​In a way, the low rumble of the rain provided the perfect atmosphere to discuss a film widely considered one of the high points of cinema history. We explore Ozu’s unique visual style and the quiet, inevitable disappointments that define the relationships between the generations.

​In this episode, we reference clips from:

​Sakura, Japanese Folk Song: https://youtu.be/AK51LblcEOw?si=KlO76cPH6K6Um6C1

​Lindsay Anderson on Tokyo Story: https://youtu.be/7pss-7_5Xh0?si=Ox1KlVJPXQS2Do6T

​Martin Scorsese on Ozu and The Stop Watch: https://youtube.com/shorts/bWRtc63FXM4?si=5ZH4rBx56Vra7GV7

​Getting the shot with Yuharu Atsuta: https://youtu.be/g0_iThToEzk?si=g1e8JQNKUFKpnAfp

​Connect With Us:

​YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz

​Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892

​Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA

​X (Twitter): @etrommater

​Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club

Support the show and get closer to the booth! Benefits include:

​Bonus Episodes

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​Our Love and Appreciation

​Future exclusive perks we haven't thought of, yet

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(Recurring monthly payments of any amount make a huge difference!)

In this special bonus installment, we reflect on a filmmaker who defined the American cinematic landscape for decades. We also circle back to the studio for a final word on our recent guest.

​The Panel

Jennifer Trujillo, Sila Blume, Eric Trommater, and Erin Brown.

Remembering Rob Reiner (March 6, 1947 – December 14, 2025)

The panel gathers to remember the life and legacy of Rob Reiner. Following his passing this past December, we take a moment to look at his run of films:

​This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

​Stand by Me (1986)

​The Princess Bride (1987)

​When Harry Met Sally… (1989)

​Misery (1990)

​A Few Good Men (1992)

Additionally, we host a debate on the origins of the mockumentary form, questioning if Peter Watkins' The War Game (1966) should be considered the true first of its kind.

The La Monte Afterparty

To close out the episode, we briefly recap the final insights from Christine La Monte after she left the studio. We share the post-script thoughts and industry reflections that surfaced once the formal mics were cut, rounding out our time with her before we return to our main series.

​Upcoming Schedule

​Next: Tokyo Story (1953) — Ozu and the geometry of aging

​Following: Nouvelle Vague (2025) — Linklater’s look at the birth of the New Wave

​Road to Godard 1: Grand Illusion (1937) — Renoir’s foundational work

​Road to Godard 2: Children of Paradise (1945) — Carné and the theater of life

​Road to Godard 3: Orpheus (1950) — Cocteau’s poetic underworld

​Road to Godard 4: Weekend (1967) — The end of cinema

Check us out on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz ⁠⁠⁠

on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892

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Consider joining the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club.

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To join just go to https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory

and make a recurring monthly payment for any amount.

Producer Christine La Monte joins the show to discuss her Oscar-shortlisted film Viva Verdi! and Ai Weiwei’s Turandot. We talk about the residents of Casa Verdi and the bridge between opera and cinema history.

Host: Eric Trommater

Panel: Erin Brown, Sila Blume, Jennifer Trujillo

Special Guest: My cousin, Jordan Best (Vocals, "O mio babbino caro" by Puccini) https://www.bestsoprano.com/ 

Links & Info:

Listen to "Sweet Dreams of Joy": https://youtu.be/dpAOquDGcUs?si=gli5b6F6hq8FFKfP

Next week: Ozu’s Tokyo Story

Films recommended by Christine Le Monte

The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life, an Academy Award-winning 2013 documentary-short film directed, written and produced by Malcolm Clarke about the oldest living Holocaust survivor.

The Age of Champions, a 2011 documentary about The Senior Olympics.

Kokuho from 2025, this year's Japanese entry for the Best Foreign Film Oscar.

Check us out on YouTube https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz ⁠⁠⁠ 

on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 

or Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA 

or follow us on X (The Artist Formerly Known as Twitter): @etrommater 

Consider joining the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club.

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and make a recurring monthly payment for any amount.

In this episode, the panel sits down with writer and producer Christine La Monte to discuss her work on Viva Verdi! and Ai Weiwei’s Turandot. Even for those who don't follow opera, this conversation is a deep dive into the "third act" of life and the preservation of artistic legacy.

[00:03:08] The Producer’s Role: Christine explains her journey from major studios to independent projects, serving as the bridge that ensures a director's vision is faithfully translated to the screen.

[00:18:27] Viva Verdi!: The heart of the discussion is a retirement home in Milan built by Giuseppe Verdi for musicians.

[00:20:40] A Living Liturgy: We explore a place where the elderly masters and young students share a common language of music, proving that art provides a shared recognition that sustains us through old age.

[00:34:04] Ai Weiwei’s Turandot: We also look at how activist artist Ai Weiwei used Puccini’s final work to comment on modern authoritarianism.

[00:40:04] Art as Witness: A raw look at how art functions as a public witness to history, even under the pressure of a global pandemic.

[01:13:26] Looking Ahead: The panel concludes by previewing the end of the current series with Ozu’s Tokyo Story before beginning the Road to Godard, featuring Grand Illusion ('37), Children of Paradise ('45), Orpheus ('50), and Weekend ('67).

This week on World Cinema History, we continue our series on Aging and Mortality in 1950s Cinema. Having explored the bureaucratic cages of Kurosawa’s Ikiru and the cold Swedish apathy of Bergman’s Wild Strawberries, we now arrive in the blistering, post-war economic hangover of Vittorio De Sica’s 1952 film, Umberto D.

Host Eric Trommater is joined by Erin Brown, Sila Blume, and Italianophile Audra Angelique to dissect a film that was so honest about Italian poverty it was publicly accused of "slandering Italy" by the government.

In this episode, we discuss:

The World’s Most Synchronized Dog: Why Flike is the true star of the film (and why he’s such a good boy).

The 18,000 Lire Problem: We break down Umberto’s debt—roughly $340 in today’s money—and why such a "small" sum was a catastrophic, life-ending figure for a pensioner.

The Irony of Neo-Realism: How a movement dedicated to "truth" was built on a foundation of noisily dubbed studio dialogue and non-professional actors.

The Great Debate: Eric offers a pointed rebuttal to Erin’s preference for this film over China is Near, arguing that while Umberto D. leaves us paralyzed by outrage, Bellocchio’s satire provides a Brechtian "false happy ending" that allows us to process the hypocrisy of the political center.

From Realism to Satire: Finding the seeds of Commedia all’italiana in the film’s darkest moments—from professional beggars to Flike holding the hat in his mouth.

Join us as we explore the "poetry of the ordinary" and the political minefield that defined one of the most influential eras in film history.

Sound Credits

Opening Audio: Courtesy of Martin Scorsese’s introduction to Umberto D. on Turner Classic Movies (TCM).

Musical Theme: Canto di Lavoro composed by Alessandro Cicognini.

Classical Selections: * Vivaldi, Concerto for Viola d'amore in A Minor, RV 397.

Rossini, La Gazza Ladra (The Thieving Magpie) Overture.

Next Week: We conclude our series with Yasujirō Ozu’s Tokyo Story.

Check us out on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz ⁠⁠⁠

on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892

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Consider joining the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club.

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​In this episode, we take an existential road trip from Lund to Stockholm to discuss Ingmar Bergman's 1957 film, Wild Strawberries—or Smultronstället—a film about aging, isolation, and confronting a lifetime of emotional coldness.

​Host Eric Trommater is joined by panelists Erin Brown (experiencing Bergman for the first time) and Sila Blume for a deep dive into the film's structure. We examine how Bergman uses unsettling dream sequences and unreliable, sunlit flashbacks to hold the protagonist, Dr. Isak Borg (played by Swedish cinema legend Victor Sjöström), accountable for his solitude. We also discuss the controversy surrounding Bergman's biography, explore the tension between public gesture and private acceptance of mortality, and ask: Does the critical habit of viewing every film as autobiography serve the art?

​Key Cast Credited: Victor Sjöström (Dr. Isak Borg), Ingrid Thulin (Marianne), Bibi Andersson (Both Saras), and Max Von Sydow.

​Source & Music Credits:

​Interview Excerpt: Ingmar Bergman on The Dick Cavett Show (1971)

​Special Thanks for the sound clips: The Swedish Chef (from The Muppets)

​Cold Open Music: "Glädjens blomster" (Traditional/Elias Sehlstedt)

​Main Theme Music: "Excelsior! Concert Overture" (Wilhelm Stenhammar)

Check us out on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz ⁠⁠⁠

on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892

or Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA

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Consider joining the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club.

Benefits include:

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To join just go to https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory

and make a recurring monthly payment for any amount.

Erin Brown hosts a discussion with Eric Trommater and Jennifer Trujillo on one of her favorite movies, 2019's "Jojo Rabbit." The film features Sam Rockwell, Rebel Wilson and Scarlett Johannson in a tale of a young boy and his imaginary friend Adolph Hitler, played by the movie's Writer-Director Taika Waititi.

Check us out on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz ⁠⁠⁠

on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892

or Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA

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Consider joining the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club.

Benefits include:

* Bonus Episodes

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* Our Love and Appreciation

* Whatever Else We Think of in The Future

* Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (sorry in advance)

To join just go to https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory

and make a recurring monthly payment for any amount.